The Fledge series were of a "rigid-wing" type, as opposed to the predominantly "flex-wing" hang glider designs then common.

[1][2] California inventor Jack McCornack took the Fledge IIB wing and designed a tubular assembly that replaced the Fledge's hang glider seat with a reclined pilot seat, wheeled landing gear and engine mount for a pusher powerplant.

[1] In 1979 McCornack and his flying partner, Keith Nicely, flew two improved Fledglings from their base in Monterey, California, to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they made a positive impression on the large gathering of pilots at the EAA annual convention there.

The model was called the Pterodactyl Pfledge OR (Oshkosh Replica) and was powered by a Sachs SA-340 336 cc direct drive two-stroke engine.

[4] Construction of all Pterodactyl aircraft was predominantly of anodized 6061-T6 aluminum tubing, braced with swaged steel cables supported by a king post and with a sewn Dacron sail for wing covering.

[6] Pterodactyl production commenced in 1979 and was completed in 1984, when the company was sold to a group of partners under the name "Freedom Fliers" and moved to Rowlett, Texas.

[1] In 1991 one of McCornack's original dealers from 1978, Dave Froble, started producing parts to keep his own fleet of Pterodactyls flying.

[1] DFE Ultralights has produced a small number of complete kits and continues to support the fleet of existing aircraft with parts to keep them flying.

John D. (Jack) Peterson, Jr. completed a flight in a Pfledge from Long Beach, California to Hilton Head, South Carolina over a period of 29 days between July 9 and August 6, 1979, with ground support.