MacCready Gossamer Condor

AeroVironment · United States · first flew 1976 · glider

The MacCready Gossamer Condor was the first human-powered aircraft capable of controlled and sustained flight, and as such won the Kremer prize in 1977. Its design was led by Paul MacCready of AeroVironment.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	Canard control surface on a fuselage extension in front
T — Tail	No tailplane

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Spot it by:

Very large wing with wire bracing and a gondola for the pilot underneath
Canard control surface on a fuselage extension in front
Pusher propeller driven by pedalling

Built mostly of lightweight plastics with aluminium spars, it has a large wing, a gondola underneath and a canard at the front.

Specifications

The MacCready Gossamer Condor has a length of 9.14 m (30 ft).
It has a wingspan of 29.25 m (96 ft).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

MacCready and Peter Lissaman took a fresh look at the Kremer Prize challenge in the early 1970s and took inspiration from hang gliders, increasing wing area to reduce the drag of wire bracing. The aircraft evolved through three versions, and the Mojave version was flown by MacCready's sons on 26 December 1976.

Variants

The Pasadena version was a proof of concept that flew only once, the Mojave version had no pilot fairings, and the record-breaking Shafter version added a pilot nacelle and double-skin airfoil sections. The Gossamer Albatross was a development.

Where you'll see it

Piloted by Bryan Allen, it won the first Kremer prize on 23 August 1977 by completing a figure-eight course at Minter Field in Shafter, California. It is now on display.

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