Author Topic: Man powered flight  (Read 286 times)

Offline Greybeard

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Man powered flight
« on: 14.06. 2023 10:11 »
On This Date, June 12, 1979: The human-powered airplane, Gossamer Albatross, built by AeroVironment, Inc., of Simi Valley, Calif., flew across the English Channel. Powered by long-distance cyclist Bryan Lewis, the flight established two Fèdèration Aèronautique Internationale world records. Allen pedaled at a constant 75 rpm. The aircraft was designed by Paul Beattie MacCready, Jr., Ph.D., and weighed just 70 pounds. MacReady received the Collier Trophy for 1979 from the National Aeronautic Association, “For the concept, design and construction of the Gossamer Albatross, which made the first man-powered flight across the English Channel — with special recognition to Bryan Allen, the pilot.”
For more military and aviation milestones, visit https://bit.ly/otd-June-10-16
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Offline RDfella

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Re: Man powered flight
« Reply #1 on: 14.06. 2023 10:20 »
So were the cyclist and pilot two different people? Were both aboard this contraption, or did no-one proof-read the article?
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Offline Greybeard

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Re: Man powered flight
« Reply #2 on: 14.06. 2023 10:30 »
So were the cyclist and pilot two different people? Were both aboard this contraption, or did no-one proof-read the article?
Eh?
Greybeard (Neil)
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Offline RDfella

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Re: Man powered flight
« Reply #3 on: 14.06. 2023 11:12 »
Quote
Powered by long-distance cyclist Bryan Lewis,
Quote
with special recognition to Bryan Allen, the pilot.”

Greybeard seems confused by my post, so:
Does the above refer to the same person, but the article was not properly proof-read (as I suspect) or were there two separate people and, if so, were they both aboard the 'contraption' (unlikely) or was it only the cyclist and the pilot was aboard the accompanying boat?
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Offline Greybeard

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Re: Man powered flight
« Reply #4 on: 14.06. 2023 12:26 »
Ah yes, Brian and then Allen 🤔

I think what happened was, a reader corrected the author about the first name of the pilot. The auther edited the text but missed one of the references.
Greybeard (Neil)
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Offline Greybeard

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Re: Man powered flight
« Reply #5 on: 14.06. 2023 22:11 »
Another picture.

Brian Allen was the pilot and engine.
Greybeard (Neil)
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A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash