The Flight of the Gossamer Condor

1978
27m

IMDb RATING

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The Flight of the Gossamer Condor (1978)

The Flight of the Gossamer Condor tells the inspiring true story of history's first successful human-powered flight. Renowned inventor Dr. Paul MacCready and his team were filmed creating th... Read allThe Flight of the Gossamer Condor tells the inspiring true story of history's first successful human-powered flight. Renowned inventor Dr. Paul MacCready and his team were filmed creating the world-famous pedal-powered airplane as it happened. Producing this film which documents ... Read allThe Flight of the Gossamer Condor tells the inspiring true story of history's first successful human-powered flight. Renowned inventor Dr. Paul MacCready and his team were filmed creating the world-famous pedal-powered airplane as it happened. Producing this film which documents the development of a man's dream into a scientific and historic achievement was, in itself... Read all

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IMDb RATING

6.8/10

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

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Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total

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Top cast5

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Bryan Allen

Self - Final Pilot

Paul B. MacCready

Self
(as Paul MacCready)

Tyler MacCready

Self

Greg Miller

Self

Roger Steffens

Narrator
(voice)

Director
- Ben Shedd
Writer
- Ben Shedd
All cast & crew
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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The Gossamer Condor airplane is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum between the Wright Brothers' first plane and the Apollo 11 moon capsule.

User reviews2

Featured review

10/10

Up, up and away!

Since the beginning of time, humans have attempted to fly. Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved this with a motor-powered airplane in 1903, but a human-powered flying machine remained elusive. So, in 1959, British industrialist Henry Kremer offered £50,000 to anyone who could develop a human-powered aircraft. Many tried to no avail. So, in the 1970s, AeroVironment employee Paul MacCready decided to tackle the challenge. The result was the Gossamer Condor, with increased wing area to reduce drag.

Ben Shedd's Academy Award-winning documentary "The Flight of the Gossamer Condor" looks at the development and launch of MacCready's brainchild. Naturally it took a few tries, but they eventually succeeded and went on to win the Kremer Prize (I doubt that I have to warn about spoilers; the documentary's title IS the spoiler). It looks like an impressive and fun process. This is one documentary that should dispel the notion that science is boring, or that people shouldn't try to innovate. Good times.