What was special about the Gossamer Albatross?
On June 12, 1979, the Gossamer Albatross became the first fully human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel. The 70-lb aircraft completed the 26-mile flight in 2 hours, 49 minutes, clinching the second prestigious Kremer Prize for Dr. Paul MacCready.
How far did the Gossamer Condor fly?
22.25 statute miles
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.
Who Flew the Albatross?
Bryan Allen
Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. 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.
What was the problem with the Gossamer Condor?
2. What was the problem that the designer and his team were trying to solve? Be advised, the problem was not to design an aircraft. The design of an aircraft was part of the solution to the problem.
How was the Gossamer Albatross powered?
Just before 6 am on June 12, 1979, amateur cyclist and pilot Bryan Allen powered the Albatross to the rehearsed speed of 75 revolutions per minute and took off from a point near Folkestone, England. The Channel conditions and lack of wind were ideal for the crossing.
How did the first non stop around the world flight refuel?
On December 23, 1986, Voyager completed the first nonstop, non-refueled flight around the world. Voyager, a unique aircraft constructed almost entirely of lightweight graphite-honeycomb composite materials and laden with fuel, lifted from Edwards AFB, California at 8:01:44 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, on Dec.
Who was the first test pilot of the Gossamer Condor?
That was the Gossamer Condor, made out of aluminum tubing, cardboard, Mylar and piano wire. It weighed just 55 pounds, took seven minutes to go about a mile, and it was powered by a furiously pedaling pilot. The pilot was Bryan Allen.
What was the major natural element that caused the most problems to the Gossamer Condor?
Wind
Wind was the major natural element that caused the most problems. The final generation Gossamer Condor had swept back wings, the wings undersides were covered with mylar, and there was an enclosed space for the pilot.
How long did it take for the Gossamer Condor to be built?
A human-powered airplane. That was the challenge set forth by Henry Kremer in 1959. For 18 years, nobody could do it. But within six months of trying, Paul MacCready built and flew his Gossamer Condor (below).
How fast is the MacCready Gossamer Albatross?
18 mphMacCready Gossamer Albatross / Top speed
Allen completed the 22.2 mi (35.7 km) crossing in 2 hours and 49 minutes, achieving a top speed of 18 mph (29 km/h) and an average altitude of 5 ft (1.5 m).
What are the characteristics of gossamer aircraft?
The Gossamer aircraft have marginal or slightly negative pitch and yaw static stability, but large amounts of damping in pitch and roll, which somewhat compensates for the static instability. 3.
What is the Gossamer Albatross II?
The Gossamer Albatross II was involved in slow-speed flight tests at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. in the spring of 1980. The original Gossamer Albatross is best known for completing the first completely human-powered flight across the English Channel on June 12, 1979. Dr.
How long is the Gossamer flight at Harper Lake?
“The one-hour, nine-minute, three-second flight at Harper Lake was my favorite single flight,” Allen said. As a long-time long-distance cyclist, Allen was built for the kind of challenge presented by the Gossamer aircraft.
What can we learn from the Gossamer series?
A number novel of and important aerodynamic, stability, and control phenomena are present in the Gossamer series of human-powered aircraft. The analyses and tests reported here showed considerable promise towards understanding them, but a number of areas deserve further research.