Mr. Barish, who was once referred to as the forgotten father of paragliding, invented a single-surface airfoil that, along with a similar version by another designer, evolved into the paraglider of today. He died on Dec. 15 2009 at the age of 88 in Manhattan, where he lived with his son
The first flight, on Oct. 15, 1965, Mr. Barish slipped into the harness and flew about 200 feet down a slope at a ski resort in the Catskills.
In the summer of 1966, Mr. Barish and his son Craig toured ski resorts from Vermont to California, demonstrating that “slope soaring†could be a viable summer activity for the resorts. Although it would take years before Mr. Barish gained recognition, his barnstorming tour laid the groundwork for the sport.
The Barish Sail Wing
David Barish
