MacCready "Gossamer Albatross"
date: label: Date
content: 1979
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Dr. Paul MacCready
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Pedal powered aircraft, mylar and composite construction.
label: Summary
content: On June 12, 1979, the Gossamer Albatross, with Bryan Allen as pilot, became the first human-powered aircraft to fly across the English Channel. The flight lasted 2 hours and 49 minutes and covered 36.2 kilometers (22.5 miles) between Folkestone, England, and Cap Gris Nez, France. For this accomplishment, the Albatross team won their second Kremer Prize for human-powered aircraft.
label: Summary
content: Designed by Dr. Paul MacCready and his team of engineers from AeroVironment, the Albatross was similar to the Gossamer Condor, which was the first successful human-powered aircraft. The Albatross was built mostly of carbon fiber tubing and covered with clear Mylar. Unlike the Condor, it was designed to be easily disassembled for shipping.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
label: Exhibit Station
content: Ultralight Aircraft
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Donated by Aerovironment Inc.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19810428000
objectType: label: Type
content: CRAFT-Aircraft
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Covering: Mylar
label: Materials
content: Structural: Balsa Wood, Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, Wire, Foam
label: Dimensions
content: Wingspan: 28.6 m (93 ft 10 in)
label: Dimensions
content: Length: 15.4 m (50 ft 6 in)
label: Dimensions
content: Height: 5 m (16 ft 4 in)
label: Dimensions
content: Weight, empty: 31.8 kg (70 lb)
label: Dimensions
content: Weight, takeoff: 97.5 kg (215 lb)
label: Dimensions
content: Top speed: 24 km/h (15 mph)