WIND WEAPON /1985/

Too Early, Too Brilliant — 40 Years On. The invention that bridged windsurfing and the sky.

Zpět na hlavní menu /  Expo / Katalog plachet / Katalog prken /
Back to main menu /  Expo / Sails catalogue / Boards catalogue /

• 

• 

Celebrating 40 Years of Radical Innovation (1985–2025)

In 2025, we mark 40 years since the patent application of the Wind Weapon — one of windsurfing’s most unusual and ambitious designs, created by Californian inventor Tom Magruder. To highlight this anniversary, the Windsurfing Museum Prague presents a rare, custom-built European version of the rig. This exceptional piece was kindly donated by its creator, Hannes Plöschberger, former Austrian F2 team rider. His generous donation immediately became one of the most eye-catching exhibits — a centerpiece of the museum’s collection and a testament to the experimental spirit of the 1980s.  Let’s take a closer look back and rediscover the bold, visionary story of this remarkable invention.

FUNCTION AND PERFORMANCE

Magruder’s Wind Weapon introduced a radical concept to windsurfing: a dihedral wing with short mast mounted to the board instead of a sail. The wing provided both lift and propulsion and allowed for unique movement over the water. The symmetrical airfoil and pivoting boom gave the rider a new range of control — including the ability to “fly” short distances. The patent of the “Sailing wing” (US Patent US4682557A; Magruder Thomas A., Crowell Robert L.) was filed on 12-5-1985, but the design process began in the early 80s.

• 

• 

• 

SURF Magazine featured the Wind Weapon in 3/1987 issue and then in 2017 tested it on water and documented how difficult it was to return to shore due to the lift generated by the wing. The test concluded that while the rig worked, it demanded great skill and ideal conditions…
“The profile does indeed feel like an aerofoil and even if we don’t soar into orbit like the guys from the Columbia River, you can still feel the delayed descent that once made the Wind Weapon so special.”…. “Manoeuvres, on the other hand, remain a mystery. During my power jibes, I regularly fail to fold the rig horizontally over my head in time and instead stick the bottom corner into the water at full speed.”….. Water starts also required specific techniques: “As I hang under the kite again and gurgle, I intuitively grab the mast with my front hand, slide far down and lo and behold: the Wind Weapon straightens up and I get the necessary lift for the water start.”

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Beat Steffan, a PWA freestyler and our museum guru, documented W.W. in 1987 in Hawaii. I hope Beat will still remember and add his comment…

Jon Bouffleur shared a memory on Facebook in 2019:
“The biggest jump I have ever seen was a sailor on a Wind Weapon. Doug’s Beach on a 4.0 day, windy with big gusts. About 1985. The guy went up and hit a big gust, 40mph+. He was going UP! My best guess at 60–70 ft off the water he ejected. It was amazing!  Cheers to whoever that was!”

• 

• 

Uli Stanciu on facebook commented in 2019: “We met Tom Magruder and his brother in 1985. We (Tom, Jim Drake, and I) were considering to market the wing-rigg idea together…
But it seemed at that time, that Tom was the only one who could really fly this rig. Later on, even he gave up. Of course, we had no inflatable rigs and no foilboards at that time. Maybe it needed these new developments to make it a success.”

EUROPEAN W.W. VARIANT — HANNES PLöSCHBERGER’S “WING RIG”

In the mid-1980s, several Wind Weapon units made it to Europe. One landed in the hands of Austrian F2 team rider Hannes Plöschberger, who was intrigued by the idea and started experimenting with his own version. Finally Hannes built two custom prototypes. The first prototype of the “Wing Rig”, built with the Sunsplash company, was tested on snow…  “ The involvement of F2 was through Lumpi, our sailmaker. F2 was immortalized as the main sponsor on the sail. It somehow ended. Due to the difficulties with jibing, interest waned. I also ended my career as a regatta sailor after selling F2. Then I spent two more years with bic, North, and Up.”

• 

• 

• 

An original 80s photo from personal archives shows Hannes with the second prototype with BiC / Schuh Ski / North Sails sponsor stickers. Today, the same Wing rig carries sticker “STARBOARD”, reflecting Hannes’s last sponsorship (it is a bit confusing as this brand has nothing in common with rig development and history). This Wing Rig was several years used by Hannes on water in Fuerteventura, Vasiliki (Greece) and Lake Neusiedl (Austria). The setup was highly visible, often turning heads wherever he sailed. The elevated silhouette of the wing drew attention and awe — it was truly something different. Although it never entered serial production, it remains the only known European-built version of Magruder’s original concept. On the 8^th of October 2024, Hannes Plöschberger donated his unique rig to the Windsurfing Museum Prague. He personally delivered and assembled it, patiently explaining the structure and function of the entire setup. The museum staff even got a ground-based lesson in how to “fly” it …

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We did our best, but honestly… I don’t think I’ll ever try the Wing Rig on the water. I am curious, but this gem is just too rare and fragile. I simply can’t risk damaging it. So yes — it’s pretty certain this piece of windsurfing history will remain flying under the museum hall ceiling, greeting our visitors forever.

• 

• 

• 

Nochmals herzlichen Dank, Hannes.

Special thanks to SURF magazine for valuable reports and reviews of the original Wind Weapon.

SOURCES, LINKS & REFERENCES – literature and documents used:

1) Surf Magazine (11/24 on-line web version, originally published in 2017 ) — ‘Drifted Off and Almost Drowned – A Day with the Wind Weapon’
https://www.surf-magazin.de/en/windsurfing/scene-and-events/time-travel-drifted-off-and-almost-drowned-a-day-with-the-wind-weapon/
2) Surf Magazine (10/2021) — ‘Is the Wind Weapon the Mother of Wingsurfing?’
https://www.surf-magazin.de/en/wingsurfing/scene-and-events/is-the-wind-weapon-the-mother-of-wingsurfing/
3) Raw power – William C. Taylor, Wild West Motion picture Inc.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qutaAX8DMY 
or https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1696802240331168 
Image sources and credits are listed above for the respective photos.

This story focuses on the Wind Weapon and its European custom clone Wing rig. Check “A brief history of the handheld sails and wings.” article by Windsurfing Museum Prague, please
http://www.windsurfingmuseum.eu/en/wing/

P.S. Joe Kool´s facebook post…

• 

• 

Provided for Non-Commercial and Educational Use only. If you really feel the need to copy and repost images and museum web page content, please respect credits & sources (at least as they are stated).
We try to acknowledge the sources of used images and documents and give credits to those who deserve it. Please let us know if you find any omissions or mistakes. Thanks.

It took us unexpectedly a lot of work, if you happen to publish it somewhere, please consider mentioning the windsurfingmuseum.eu. THANK YOU.