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Paul MacCready was an aeronautical engineer who won the first Kremer Prize in 1977 for the flight of his human-powered Gossamer Condor over a closed circuit course. He set his sights on another challenge, like Louis Bleriot had done in 1909, of crossing the English Channel by air – but this time, on human-power only.
MacCready's Gossamer Albatross aircraft benefited from lessons learned with the Condor and was designed to fly long distances with a human as the only power source. This light and fragile aircraft was pushed by a propeller connected through a series of gears to a constantly pedaling pilot. On June 12, 1979, the Albatross, powered and guided by pilot Bryan Allen (who also flew the Condor), made a historic flight across the English Channel. The record-breaking flight covered a distance of 22.25 statute miles (35.6 km) in 2 hours and 49 minutes and won a second Kremer Prize for MacCready and his team.
The Albatross II on display at the Museum was built as a backup to the record-breaking Albatross aircraft. Apart from minor differences, this craft is near-identical to the Albatross that flew across the Channel. The Albatross II later took part in NASA low-speed stability tests at Edwards Air Force Base, California, which included a small electric motor. It was the first human-powered aircraft to make a controlled flight inside an enclosed structure - the Houston Astrodome.
The aircraft was donated to The Museum of Flight by Paul MacReady.
Paul MacCready was an aeronautical engineer who won the first Kremer Prize in 1977 for the flight of his human-powered Gossamer Condor over a closed circuit course. He set his sights on another challenge, like Louis Bleriot had done in 1909, of crossing the English Channel by air – but this time, on human-power only.
MacCready's Gossamer Albatross aircraft benefited from lessons learned with the Condor and was designed to fly long distances with a human as the only power source. This light and fragile aircraft was pushed by a propeller connected through a series of gears to a constantly pedaling pilot. On June 12, 1979, the Albatross, powered and guided by pilot Bryan Allen (who also flew the Condor), made a historic flight across the English Channel. The record-breaking flight covered a distance of 22.25 statute miles (35.6 km) in 2 hours and 49 minutes and won a second Kremer Prize for MacCready and his team.
The Albatross II on display at the Museum was built as a backup to the record-breaking Albatross aircraft. Apart from minor differences, this craft is near-identical to the Albatross that flew across the Channel. The Albatross II later took part in NASA low-speed stability tests at Edwards Air Force Base, California, which included a small electric motor. It was the first human-powered aircraft to make a controlled flight inside an enclosed structure - the Houston Astrodome.
The aircraft was donated to The Museum of Flight by Paul MacReady.
