--- title: "Paul MacCready: biography and aviation achievements — OnlyPlanes" description: "Paul McCready: Founded AeroVironment. Planes, events and biographical facts." canonical_url: "https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/paul-maccready" locale: en meta: keywords: "Paul McCready, Paul McCready biography, Paul McCready achievements, Paul McCready, Designers and engineers, people in aviation, Gossamer Condor, Gossamer Albatross, Solar Challenger, Gossamer Condor prize flight in 1977, Crossing the Channel in 1979" "og:description": "Paul McCready: Founded AeroVironment. Planes, events and biographical facts." "og:image": "https://onlyplanes.ru/images/aviation-people/paul-maccready.webp" "og:image:alt": "Paul MacCready — archive photograph." "og:title": "Paul MacCready: biography and aviation achievements — OnlyPlanes" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://onlyplanes.ru/llms.txt) Designers and engineers · United States # Paul MacCready — biography and achievementsPaul MacCready — biography and achievements Paul MacCready (1925–2007) was an American engineer, glider pilot and AeroVironment founder known for aircraft requiring exceptionally little power. Gossamer Condor used human muscle power; Gossamer Albatross crossed the English Channel in 1979 with Bryan Allen. He also developed solar aircraft, exploring how reductions in weight and drag enable flight with very limited energy. ![Paul MacCready — archive photograph.](https://onlyplanes.ru/images/aviation-people/paul-maccready.webp) *Paul MacCready — archive photograph.* ## Life and work in aviation Paul MacCready (1925–2007) was an American engineer, glider pilot and AeroVironment founder known for aircraft requiring exceptionally little power. Gossamer Condor used human muscle power; Gossamer Albatross crossed the English Channel in 1979 with Bryan Allen. He also developed solar aircraft, exploring how reductions in weight and drag enable flight with very limited energy. ## Planer and Efficiency Engineer McCready was involved in gliding and received scientific and engineering training. Flying without an engine helps to pay attention to resistance, mass and available energy. His further developments grew out of this environment. Instead of increasing power, he was looking for a way to reduce the power plant requirements. This is a different engineering path: the machine must use a small amount of energy so efficiently as to preserve the controlled flight and perform the specified program. ## Gossamer Condor and muscle traction In 1977, Gossamer Condor completed the route associated with the Kremer Prize. Pilot Brian Allen drove the propeller by his own efforts. A large wing and a very light design helped to reduce the required power, but made the device dependent on suitable conditions. Such an aircraft cannot be evaluated as a conventional transport: it was built for a specific experiment on the possibilities of flight with muscle drive. ## Gossamer Albatross over the English Channel On 12 June 1979, Allen crossed the English Channel at Gossamer Albatross. McCready supervised the design work, and the pilot provided control and physical power for the propeller. As a result, it is important to distinguish roles. The route showed the performance of a carefully optimized device, but did not turn muscle aviation into a universal mode of transportation. It was an outstanding confirmation of efficiency with a strictly limited energy source. ## Solar Apparatus and Research School Further work by AeroVironment included Solar Challenger and other solar-powered vehicles. Such projects required coordination of the area of the elements, the mass of the structure and the consumption of the power plant. McCready’s legacy is linked to a research approach: limiting energy was an incentive for new solutions. This experience is important for the history of environmentally friendly technologies, but a specific experiment can not be given as evidence of the readiness of all types of aviation to switch to one power source. ## How the wing, stability and design are related The aircraft must simultaneously create lift, overcome resistance and maintain control. A good wing does not solve all problems by itself. Suitable controls are required, and the structure and distribution of the mass is strong enough. Therefore, the history of the aviation project is useful to consider as the coordination of several functions. Changing one element affects the rest: a heavier vehicle requires different flight conditions, and a new engine can change the layout and behavior of the machine. The glider helps to explore the flight without its own power plant. It uses altitude stock and movement relative to air; duration depends on design and atmospheric conditions. Early experiments allowed us to study the stability and actions of the pilot before the advent of a suitable engine. At the same time, a small model does not automatically confirm the behavior of a full-size machine. To go to the apparatus with a person, separate strength calculations, manufacturing and practical verification under the appropriate load are needed. The material is selected taking into account the mass, strength, manufacture and maintenance. Wood, metal alloys and composites have different joining properties and technologies. The new design may be promising, but its advantages need to be confirmed by tests. The name of the material is not a guarantee of safety or economy. Important are the power kit layout, the quality of the parts and how the body perceives real loads during operation, including repeated takeoffs and landings. The design result consists of calculations, manufacture, ground inspection and flight observations. The engineering school passes on ways to solve problems to the next generation, not just the appearance of the aircraft. When studying the biography, it is useful to associate projects with their purpose: the training machine, transport and experimental glider require different compromises. So it is clearer why two apparently similar designs can have a completely different operational role and history of development. ## Major achievements - Founded AeroVironment - The creation of Gossamer Condor - Developed Gossamer Albatross and participated in the development of solar aviation ## Aircraft and flying machines - Gossamer Condor - Gossamer Albatross - Solar Challenger ## Organisations and events AeroVironment - Gossamer Condor prize flight in 1977 - Crossing the English Channel in 1979 ## Questions about this biography
Why is Paul McCready in the history of aviation? He founded AeroVironment. He directed the creation of Gossamer Condor. He developed Gossamer Albatross and participated in the development of solar aviation.
With what field of aviation is this biography connected? Paul McCready (1925-2007) was an American engineer, glider and founder of AeroVironment, known for machines with unusually low power requirements.
What aircraft are involved in this work? Biography related: Gossamer Condor, Gossamer Albatross, Solar Challenger. Their role and period are described in the main sections.
What events help to understand the professional path? Main historical episodes: Gossamer Condor prize flight in 1977; Crossing the English Channel in 1979.
What organizations are mentioned in the biography? The professional path is connected with organizations and communities: AeroVironment.
Who piloted Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel? Brian Allen. Paul McCready led the development of the device. Flying at the same time required engineering efficiency, control and physical work of the pilot.
What is the technical context of this story? The aircraft must simultaneously create lift, overcome resistance and maintain control. A good wing does not solve all problems by itself. Suitable controls are required, and the structure and distribution of the mass is strong enough. Therefore, the history of the aviation project is useful to consider as the coordination of several functions. Changing one element affects the rest: a heavier vehicle requires different flight conditions, and a new engine can change the layout and behavior of the machine.
## Keep reading [Wilbur Wright](https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/wilbur-wright) [Otto Lilienthal](https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/otto-lilienthal) [Aviation calendar — events and historical dates](https://onlyplanes.ru/en/aviation-calendar) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/paul-maccready#person","name":"Paul MacCready","alternateName":"Paul MacCready","description":"Paul MacCready (1925–2007) was an American engineer, glider pilot and AeroVironment founder known for aircraft requiring exceptionally little power. Gossamer Condor used human muscle power; Gossamer Albatross crossed the English Channel in 1979 with Bryan Allen. He also developed solar aircraft, exploring how reductions in weight and drag enable flight with very limited energy.","image":"https://onlyplanes.ru/images/aviation-people/paul-maccready.webp","url":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/paul-maccready","hasOccupation":{"@type":"Occupation","name":"Designers and engineers"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why is Paul McCready in the history of aviation?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"He founded AeroVironment. He directed the creation of Gossamer Condor. He developed Gossamer Albatross and participated in the development of solar aviation."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"With what field of aviation is this biography connected?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Paul McCready (1925-2007) was an American engineer, glider and founder of AeroVironment, known for machines with unusually low power requirements."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What aircraft are involved in this work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Biography related: Gossamer Condor, Gossamer Albatross, Solar Challenger. Their role and period are described in the main sections."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What events help to understand the professional path?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Main historical episodes: Gossamer Condor prize flight in 1977; Crossing the English Channel in 1979."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What organizations are mentioned in the biography?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The professional path is connected with organizations and communities: AeroVironment."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who piloted Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Brian Allen. Paul McCready led the development of the device. Flying at the same time required engineering efficiency, control and physical work of the pilot."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the technical context of this story?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The aircraft must simultaneously create lift, overcome resistance and maintain control. A good wing does not solve all problems by itself. Suitable controls are required, and the structure and distribution of the mass is strong enough. Therefore, the history of the aviation project is useful to consider as the coordination of several functions. Changing one element affects the rest: a heavier vehicle requires different flight conditions, and a new engine can change the layout and behavior of the machine."}}]}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"News, stories and rare images from the world of aviation","inLanguage":"en-GB","name":"OnlyPlanes","url":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en","publisher":{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#identity"},"translationOfWork":{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#website"}},{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/paul-maccready#webpage","@type":"WebPage","description":"Paul McCready: Founded AeroVironment. Planes, events and biographical facts.","name":"Paul MacCready: biography and aviation achievements","url":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en/people-in-aviation/paul-maccready","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#website"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://onlyplanes.ru/people-in-aviation/paul-maccready"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#logo"}},{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#identity","@type":"Organization","name":"OnlyPlanes","url":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en","logo":{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#logo"},"sameAs":["https://t.me/legkoenebo"]},{"@id":"https://onlyplanes.ru/en#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"OnlyPlanes","contentUrl":"https://onlyplanes.ru/search-logo.png","inLanguage":"en-GB","url":"https://onlyplanes.ru/search-logo.png"}]} ``` ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](https://onlyplanes.ru/sitemap.md) for all pages.