1977/1979

1, 2: Gossamer Condor/Albatross

Paul MacCready becomes the "father of human-powered flight" when his 70-pound Gossamer Condor completes the first sustained, controlled human-powered flight. Two years later, his team flies the Gossamer Albatross, which has a 96-foot wingspan and is built mostly of plastic and carbon fiber, across the English Channel. That flight, made by cyclist Bryan Allen, takes a stately three hours to accomplish, though it covers only 23 miles.



1981

3: Solar Challenger