” NATIONAL RIDE THE WIND DAY “

Aug 23rd ” NATIONAL RIDE THE WIND DAY “

Enjoy the last days of summer and the warm breezes on August 23rd as you celebrate the annual National Ride the Wind Day.

National Ride the Wind Day commemorates the anniversary of the first human-powered flight to win the Kremer prize. On August 23rd of 1977, the Gossamer Condor flew the first figure-eight course specified by the Royal Aeronautical Society at Minter Field in Shafter, California. Slowly cruising at only 11 mph, it traveled a distance of 2,172 meters.

The Gossamer Condor was built by Dr. Paul B MacCready. Amateur cyclist and hang-glider pilot Bryan Allen piloted the aircraft.

When is National Paper Airplane Day?

HOW TO OBSERVE #RideTheWindDay

Take to the air! We all know that cooler air is right around the corner. So take advantage of these nice days and get outside as much as possible. Test out those human-powered aircraft and make some history. Summer breezes allow us to fly human-powered. In the event you lack a human-powered aircraft, flying a kite is always a good back plan.

You can also learn about piloting a glider or consider being a passenger. FAA certified pilots will take you soaring into the beautiful blue skies. Share your experiences and be sure to use #RideTheWindDay to post on social media.

Educators and parents, visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for many different projects!

NATIONAL RIDE THE WIND DAY HISTORY

We were unable to find the creator of National Ride the Wind Day.

Ride the Wind FAQ

Q. Where is the Gossamer Condor stored?
A. The Smithsonian Institute displays the Gossamer Condor in an exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum.

Q. Did Paul MacCready and his team invent and other human-powered aircraft?
A. Yes. The team invented the Gossamer Albatross which flew across the English Channel and the Bionic Bat, named for its onboard battery storage. The team also invented several solar aircraft.

Q. Is there a human-powered helicopter?
A. Yes. In 2013, the Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition challenged developers to design a human-powered helicopter. The parameters required the helicopter to hover for 60 seconds and reach an altitude of 3 meters. Dr. Todd Reichert and Dr. Cameron Robertson designed the winning helicopter, the Aerovelo Atlas. It hovered for 64 seconds and reached a height of 3.3 meters.

“Our own Al Aldrich… himself”