On June 12, cyclist and pilot Bryan Allen pedaled the Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. The dream of human-powered flight was very publicly realized on that day! The Museum of Flight is home to the Gossamer Albatross II, the backup aircraft for the big day. The Albatross II was used at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center for testing related to electric motors. Check out this NASA video of the Gossamer Albatross II in flight during a test! Notice anything about the pilot? Check out

Albatrosses — particularly the majestic wandering albatross — are among nature’s most extraordinary fliers, capable of gliding thousands of kilometers across the open ocean without flapping their wings for hours. Their secret lies in a technique called dynamic soaring, which allows them to harness shifting wind currents just above the ocean’s surface. By skillfully looping through layers of air moving at different speeds, they gain lift with minimal energy use — a remarkable adaptation for life

1951 Grumman Albatross taking off from a lake and en route to a far distant location. | Flying Boat