In the mid 1970’s Witold Kasper, Steve Grossruck and Don Matson entered in a collaboration to design ultralight aircraft. Witold Kasper’s experience and theories developed during the construction of flying wing gliders: BKB-1, BKB-1A and BEKAS was utilized to create a pair of unique ultralight airplane. Butch Walters, a test pilot for the Manta Fledgling hang glider provided Grossruck a prototype airframe for modification, Matson constructed an airframe based on the Icarus V hang glider, both Steve and Don’s projects were developed in parallel heavily borrowing from each others work under the guidance of Witold Kasper. Matson made brief towed test hops and a couple of foot launch attempts, these tests indicated that the rudder/stabilizers on his plane were too small for effective low speed and foot launch control. Grossruck initally produced his larger version Kasperwing rudder kits for the Fledgling hang glider, on April 12, 1978 Steve and Jack Olson flew the prototype 10hp Soarmaster powered Kasperwing  U/L for the first time. As developement continued Grossruck found that he could perform a parachute vertical descent refered to as the “mush”, the ultralight was fully controlable in all axsis even at zero airspeed! Testing, design and engine improvements of the prototype resulted in the Kasperwing 180-A U/L having an exceptionally short takeoff, no stall and good engine off gliding performance. Steve’s first customers were Gary Wilson and Virgil Dahrens who provided the working capital to begin serial production of 333 factory built Kasperwing U/Ls, Cascade Ultralights was founded at Issaquah Skyport, Washington USA.