The design has been highly successful and the aircraft won several competitions, as well as setting many records.
The aircraft was named after the Zanonia macrocarpa tropical flowering plant, the seeds of which are good gliders.
[1][2][3] The Zanonia made its contest debut with Ross flying it in the 1937 US Nationals, where he placed third, but completed his Silver C badge.
The rules required drawings and stress analysis data to be presented with the completed aircraft.
[3] In the spring of 2011 the Zanonia was undergoing a restoration with plans to display it at the 2012 International Vintage Sailplane Meet in Elmira, NY.