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Gossamer Odyssey: The Triumph of Human-Powered Flight Paperback – September 30, 2004

by Morton Grosser (Author)

4 customer reviews

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Tells the story of the historic flight of the Gossamer Albatross, a spindly, feather-light craft which on June 12, 1979 became the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel. Recent 100th anniversary of manned flight has heightened interest in the basics of flight. Author Grosser covers the history of human-powered flight including the various unsuccessful efforts in Europe (Italy, Germany, and France) following World War I as well as programs in England and Japan following World War II. The development and flight of the first successful human-powered aircraft, the Gossamer Condor, is covered in great detail. Grosser, who was a member of both of the Gassamer teams, provides an expert account that is fully accessible to the layperson and demonstrates how the channel crossing was an incredibly challenging undertaking despite the earlier success of the Condor. The Gossamer Albatross's human-powered flight from England to France across the Channel was a trumph of both man and machine.About the AuthorMorton Grosser is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S. and M.S.) and Stanford Universtiy (Ph.D.). Author of seven books and numerous technical papers, his writing has also been published in The New Yorker, Harper's, and The Atlantic. Dr. Grosser is a management and technology consultant based in Menlo Park, California.

Gossamer Odyssey: The Triumph of Human-Powered Flight

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Product Details

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Zenith Press (September 30, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0760320519
ISBN-13: 978-0760320518
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,619,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1069 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Transportation > Aviation > History
- #3672 in Books > History > Military > Aviation
- #4678 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Transportation > History

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4.6 out of 5 stars

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Top Customer Reviews

As one of the Condor crew, I think this book was the best.

By A Customer on April 21, 1998

Format: Paperback

Morton Grosser came to Shafter and to our homes while we were trying to build the first man-powered plane. He wrote a book that centered on the people that were working, thinking and arguing towards the goal. If you want a feel of what it was like to do something for the first time ever, read this book.

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A must for any aviation buff.

By Don F. Erwin on June 7, 1998

Format: Paperback

This was a very informative book and gave lots of insight into the hugh effort that must have gone into this age-old quest. The focus at the personal level gives a nice picture of what the individuals must have gone through. Makes you think "Hey, I could have been there..." Very enjoyable.

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How build it and break it is a winning aproach.

By Donald R. on August 22, 2013

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

It makes an interesting story, watching the now defunct build it and break it philosophy work, even in the environment of top technological talent. Somehow it hurts to see art lose. In the end, however technology combined with pragmatism do produce something new and with an elegence of its own.

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Fascinating story of man powered aircraft

By MavenDog on July 15, 2011

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

If you have any aviation interest, you will like this story. Paul MacCready was a remarkable aviation innovator whose unconventional, out-of-the-box thinking won the Kremer Prize; a prize awarded the designer of the first man-powered aircraft to fly in a figure eight one-mile circuit. The book is well written, and you will share the ups and downs of the development process experienced by MacCready and his team. He went on to win the Kremer prize for the first man-powered flight across the English Channel. You will really admire the pilot Bryan Allen.