The Flight of the Gossamer Condor

The Flight of the Gossamer Condor is a 1978 American short documentary film directed by Ben Shedd, about the development of the Gossamer Condor, the first human-powered aircraft, by a team led by Paul MacCready. The Academy Film Archive preserved The Flight of the Gossamer Condor in 2007.^[1]

The Flight of the Gossamer Condor
Directed by	Ben Shedd
Produced by	Jacqueline Phillips Shedd Ben Shedd
Starring	Bryan Allen
Cinematography	Boyd Estus
Edited by	Ben Shedd
Distributed by	Churchill Films
Release date	1978 (1978)
Running time	27 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Reception

In the education magazine Media & Methods, David Mallery called Flight of the Gossamer Condor "a film or extraordinary appeal", writing that "the Shedds' most subtle achievement - least flashy, most serving to their subject - is that we are thoroughly caught up in the work of the MacCready group, are intimately a part of their struggles, their determination, their energy." Mallery concludes "It's a joyous experience. I recommend it with special enthusiasm."^[2]

The Flight of the Gossamer Condor won an Oscar at the 51st Academy Awards in 1979 for Documentary Short Subject.^[3][4]

Cast

• Bryan Allen as Himself - Final Pilot
• Paul B. MacCready as Himself (as Paul MacCready)
• Tyler MacCready as Himself
• Greg Miller as Himself
• Peter Lissaman (Engineer) as Himself
• Roger Steffens as Narrator (voice)