The Gossamer Penguin was a solar-powered experimental aircraft created by Paul MacCready's AeroVironment.[1] MacCready, whose Gossamer Condor had made the first human-powered flight in 1977, told reporters two weeks in June, 1980 that "The first solar-powered flight ever made took place on May 18."[2] The testing ground was at Minter Field outside of Shafter, California. [2]
Gossamer Penguin | |
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Test flight of the Gossamer Penguin | |
Role | experimental aircraft Type of aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | AeroVironment |
Designer | Paul MacCready |
First flight | May 18, 1979 |
Number built | 1 |
Developed from | Gossamer Albatross |
Developed into | Solar Challenger |
The Penguin was a 3/4 scale version of the Gossamer Albatross II, and had a 71 ft.(21.64 meter) wingspan and a weight, without pilot, of 68 lb (31 kg). The powerplant was an AstroFlight Astro-40 electric motor, driven by a 541 watt solar panel consisting of 3920 solar cells.[3]
Initial test flights were performed using a 28 cell NiCad battery pack instead of a panel. The test pilot for these flights was MacCready's 13-year-old son Marshall, who weighed 80 lb (36 kg).
The official pilot for the project was Janice Brown, a charter pilot with commercial, instrument, and glider ratings who weighed slightly less than 100 lb (45 kg). She flew the Penguin approximately 40 times before a 1.95 mi (3.14 km) public demonstration at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on August 7, 1980.[4]
Data from MacCready, Lissaman, Morgan, and Burke 1983[1]
General characteristics
Related development
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