The MacCready Gossamer Albatross was a human powered aircraft
which consisted of a single person cabin which contained
a pedal driven mechanism driving a propellor mounted at
the rear.
The MacCready Gossamer Albatross was designed by Dr Paul
MacCready, an American aeronautical engineer.
The most important aspect to the design of the aircraft
was its lightweight construction. The MacCready Gossamer
Albatross consisted of a foam and carbon fibre structure
covered by a thin transparent film.
On June 12th 1979 the MacCready Gossamer Albatross, piloted
by cyclist Bryan Allen, crossed the English Channel in
2 hours and 49 minutes. In so doing the aircraft also
won the Kramer prize for human powered flight.
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