Jensen and Culver collaborated on the design from a concern about the safety of weight shift hang gliders as well as their structural integrity.

The VJ-23 lands and takes off on foot, but the aircraft is equipped with small wheels to allow it to be pulled up a hill.

The aircraft's rigid wing structure requires that it be transported in a trailer, rather than rolled up and carried on a roof rack like a hang glider.

[1][2] To make construction easier and quicker the design was developed into the aluminium tube, strut-braced Volmer VJ-24 SunFun.

[1] Both the glider and powered VJ-24E version proved popular and a large number were built.