20 Facts About Paul MacCready

Paul MacCready was the founder of AeroVironment and the designer of the human-powered aircraft that won the first Kremer prize.

Paul MacCready devoted his life to developing more efficient transportation vehicles that could "do more with less".

Paul MacCready graduated from Hopkins School in 1943 and then trained as a US Navy pilot before the end of World War II.

Paul MacCready received a BS in physics from Yale University in 1947, an MS in physics from Caltech in 1948, and a PhD in aeronautics from Caltech in 1952.

In 1951, Paul MacCready founded his first company, Meteorology Research Inc, to do atmospheric research.

Some of Paul MacCready's work as a graduate student involved cloud seeding, and he was an early pioneer of the use of aircraft to study meteorological phenomena.

Paul MacCready started gliding after World War II and was a three-time winner of the Richard C du Pont Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the US National Open Class Soaring Champion.

Paul MacCready invented a device that told pilots the best speed to fly a glider, depending on conditions and based on the glider's rate of sink at different air-speeds.

Paul MacCready took up the challenge and in 1979, he built the Condor's successor, the Gossamer Albatross, and won the second Kremer prize, successfully flying from England to France.

Paul MacCready received the Collier Trophy, which is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics, for his design and construction of the Albatross.

Paul MacCready later created solar-powered aircraft such as the Gossamer Penguin and the Solar Challenger.

Paul MacCready was involved in the development of NASA's solar-powered flying wings such as the Helios, which surpassed the SR-71's altitude records and could theoretically fly on Mars.

Paul MacCready collaborated with General Motors on the design of the Sunraycer, a solar-powered car, and then on the EV1 electric car.

Paul MacCready was the founder and Chairman of AeroVironment Inc.

Paul MacCready was survived by his wife Judy, his three sons Parker, Tyler and Marshall and two grandchildren.

Paul MacCready was involved with scientific skepticism from its early days, being a member of the board of directors of the Southern California Skeptics in 1985.

Paul MacCready was admitted posthumously to the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's Pantheon of Skeptics in 2011.

Since 2013, Paul MacCready has been listed on the Advisory Council of the National Center for Science Education.

Paul MacCready was a passionate environmentalist who was concerned about humanity's role in the depletion of natural resources.

Paul MacCready lectured widely at both industry and educational venues, with an emphasis on creativity.