Ron Wheeler, a Sydney boat builder, found aircraft too expensive and was too old to go hang-gliding.

In the early 1970s, he designed his own ultralight aircraft, using hang glider construction methods.

The prototype first flew in 1974.

Ron approached the Department of Transport in 1975, to develop regulations for ultralights. The Scout was the first ultralight aircraft to be covered by airworthiness regulations in the world - Air Navigation Order 95-10. Following this, the Scout entered production, as the world's first commercially available ultralight, and the ultralight industry rapidly grew.

It used a rigid wing rather than a Rogallo – and started a new Australian industry. It was a factory-built minimum aircraft that initially utilised yacht fittings from his local marine shop. It used a yacht mast spar and had only rudder and elevator controls; and was easily transportable.