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Authur T Winfree Lecture
Paul
Mac Cready, Ph.d.
Articles from The Citizen Scientist
Dr. Paul B. MacCready Delivered the Winfree Lecture at the
2005 Citizen Science Conference
Forrest M Mims III
The highlight of the third annual Citizen Science Conference at the University of Nevada on 13-15 January 2005 came when Paul B. MacCready gave the Winfree Lecture on Friday evening.
Dr. MacCready, widely known as the Father of Human-Powered Flight, is famous for designing and constructing the first successful human powered aircraft. He began the lecture by reviewing some of his pioneering research in cloud seeding and his accomplishments in flying gliders. He then described how he and his team built the first successful human-powered aircraft. The Gossamer Condor won the Kremer Prize in 1977 by successfully flying a figure eight. The Gossamer Albatross won the second Kremer Prize less than two years later by successfully flying across the English Channel. More
Tyler MacCready's Walkalong Glider
Forrest M Mims III
After presenting the Winfree Lecture at the third Citizen Science Conference, Dr. P aul MacCready produced various flying machines and gadgets to show the audience.
He first produced an ornithopter fashioned from tiny wood sticks and plastic. Ana Soto-Canino assisted by turning a crank that stored energy in the rubber-band powered flapping system. Dr. MacCready then launched the ornithopter into flight. The tiny flapping machine cruised all the way to the ceiling before descending to a chair below. More
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