{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.gossamer-condor","code":"thing-q1417056","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q1417056/","name":"Gossamer Condor","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.1.0-research.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.OBJ"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"The Gossamer Condor is a human-powered experimental aircraft developed by Paul MacCready and his team that, piloted by Bryan Allen in 1977, became the first aircraft to complete the course required for the first Kremer human-powered flight prize.","purpose":"Enable an agent to identify the Gossamer Condor, distinguish its documented configurations, assess evidence about its condition and performance, and determine appropriate research, handling or conservation actions.","scope":{"in":["Identity and boundaries of the Gossamer Condor design, historical configurations and surviving artifact","Human-powered propulsion and the relationship between pilot effort, aircraft mass and flight performance","Lifting geometry, control arrangements and demonstrated maneuverability","Lightweight construction, repairs and configuration changes","Kremer Prize flight evidence and the distinction between historical flight capability and present artifact condition"],"out":["The Gossamer Albatross and its English Channel crossing","Human-powered aircraft as a general class","Biographies of Paul MacCready, Peter Lissaman and Bryan Allen","The Kremer Prize as an institution and its complete competition history","The documentary film The Flight of the Gossamer Condor","Museum-wide collection management and general aviation regulation"],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Check for documented identification with the aircraft flown by Bryan Allen on August 23, 1977, to win the Kremer Prize over a figure-eight course; resemblance alone is insufficient. [Smithsonian exhibition record](https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/gossamer-condor%3Aevent-exhib-5075)","Distinguish it from the Gossamer Albatross, which made the 1979 English Channel crossing. [Smithsonian Albatross record](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/maccready-gossamer-albatross/nasm_A19810428000)","Check documented construction against thin aluminum tubing, Mylar covering and stainless-steel wire bracing, while allowing explicitly recorded modifications. [AeroVironment history](https://www.avinc.com/images/uploads/news/Gossamer_Condor_Use_Case.pdf)","Require provenance to distinguish an original Condor component or configuration from a replica, scale model or documentary depiction."],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"identity-and-configuration","name":"Identity and configuration","description":"Establish which Gossamer Condor configuration or representation a claim concerns.","layers":[{"id":"registered-design-boundary","name":"Registered design boundary","description":"Keep the Condor distinct from related aircraft and representations.","findings":[{"id":"condor-identification","name":"Condor identification","description":"Recognition requires an explicit link to the Condor design rather than a generic human-powered-aircraft description.","questions":[{"text":"Which document or identifying feature establishes that this subject is the Gossamer Condor?","id":"condor-identification-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Does the record describe the Condor, the Albatross, a replica or a depiction?","id":"condor-identification-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"dated-hardware-configurations","name":"Dated hardware configurations","description":"Associate observations with a traceable stage of development or preservation.","findings":[{"id":"configuration-consistency","name":"Configuration consistency","description":"Dimensions, photographs and flight results should be combined only when their configuration relationship is established.","questions":[{"text":"Which dated drawing, photograph or test log identifies the hardware described?","id":"configuration-consistency-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which components changed between this configuration and the prize-flight configuration?","id":"configuration-consistency-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"human-power-and-flight-balance","name":"Human power and flight balance","description":"Relate pilot effort, propulsion, lifting geometry and loading.","layers":[{"id":"pilot-to-propeller","name":"Pilot to propeller","description":"Describe the configuration-specific path from physical effort to thrust.","findings":[{"id":"power-budget-evidence","name":"Power budget evidence","description":"Pilot output, transmission losses and propeller demand require separate evidence rather than a single unexplained power figure.","questions":[{"text":"How did the documented pedal and transmission arrangement drive the propeller in this configuration?","id":"power-budget-evidence-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"What pilot power and duration were measured or estimated, and at which point in the drive system?","id":"power-budget-evidence-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"lift-mass-and-speed","name":"Lift, mass and speed","description":"Capture the quantities needed to interpret flight at limited available power.","findings":[{"id":"configuration-specific-performance","name":"Configuration-specific performance","description":"Wing geometry, loaded mass and flight speed must share a stated configuration and observation basis.","questions":[{"text":"What were the wing span, wing area and aircraft-plus-pilot mass for the flight being assessed?","id":"configuration-specific-performance-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Is the reported speed airspeed or groundspeed, and what wind and flight height accompanied it?","id":"configuration-specific-performance-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]}]},{"id":"control-and-course-performance","name":"Control and course performance","description":"Connect control mechanisms to evidence of maneuvering and prize-course completion.","layers":[{"id":"control-response","name":"Control response","description":"Identify how pilot inputs affected attitude and turning.","findings":[{"id":"documented-control-mechanisms","name":"Documented control mechanisms","description":"Record actual surfaces, flexible geometry and linkages before assigning conventional pitch, roll or yaw labels.","questions":[{"text":"Which surfaces or structural deformations did each pilot control actuate in the prize-flight configuration?","id":"documented-control-mechanisms-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which tests establish the resulting turn response and any coupling between pitch, roll and yaw?","id":"documented-control-mechanisms-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"kremer-demonstration","name":"Kremer demonstration","description":"Separate recorded achievement from inferred general capability.","findings":[{"id":"prize-flight-evidence","name":"Prize-flight evidence","description":"The Smithsonian records Bryan Allen completing the required figure-eight flight on August 23, 1977. [Smithsonian exhibition record](https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/gossamer-condor%3Aevent-exhib-5075)","questions":[{"text":"Which contemporary rules and adjudication records establish the required course, clearance and completion conditions?","id":"prize-flight-evidence-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which observed results support course completion, and which broader performance claims remain untested?","id":"prize-flight-evidence-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"lightweight-structure-and-iteration","name":"Lightweight structure and iteration","description":"Describe the airframe's materials, load-bearing relationships and repair-driven development.","layers":[{"id":"airframe-and-covering","name":"Airframe and covering","description":"Distinguish structural members, bracing and aerodynamic covering.","findings":[{"id":"material-and-load-path-map","name":"Material and load-path map","description":"AeroVironment describes aluminum tubes, Mylar covering and wire bracing; component-specific construction still requires drawings or inspection. [AeroVironment history](https://www.avinc.com/images/uploads/news/Gossamer_Condor_Use_Case.pdf)","questions":[{"text":"Which members, joints and bracing wires carry loads in the documented configuration?","id":"material-and-load-path-map-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"What evidence records film damage, tube deformation or bracing changes and their effects on geometry?","id":"material-and-load-path-map-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"repair-and-design-change","name":"Repair and design change","description":"Track repairs as possible changes to aerodynamic and structural behavior.","findings":[{"id":"iteration-history","name":"Iteration history","description":"AeroVironment identifies rapid modification and repair as central to Condor development. [AeroVironment history](https://www.avinc.com/images/uploads/news/Gossamer_Condor_Use_Case.pdf)","questions":[{"text":"Which repair or modification followed each recorded damage event or control problem?","id":"iteration-history-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What evidence would be needed to show that a repaired configuration retained its intended mass, alignment and control response?","id":"iteration-history-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"preserved-artifact-and-intervention","name":"Preserved artifact and intervention","description":"Connect the historical aircraft to custody, material authenticity and present intervention decisions.","layers":[{"id":"artifact-continuity","name":"Artifact continuity","description":"Trace retained and replaced material into the museum object.","findings":[{"id":"historical-to-museum-provenance","name":"Historical-to-museum provenance","description":"AeroVironment reports donation to the Smithsonian in January 1978; the surviving component history requires collection documentation. [AeroVironment history](https://www.avinc.com/images/uploads/news/Gossamer_Condor_Use_Case.pdf)","questions":[{"text":"Which accession and conservation records connect the preserved aircraft to the prize-flight hardware?","id":"historical-to-museum-provenance-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which components are original, development replacements, conservation replacements or display supports?","id":"historical-to-museum-provenance-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"condition-and-permitted-actions","name":"Condition and permitted actions","description":"Determine what current evidence permits an agent to propose.","findings":[{"id":"intervention-basis","name":"Intervention basis","description":"Present handling, conservation or testing decisions require current condition evidence and custodian authorization.","questions":[{"text":"What dated inspection documents the condition of the covering, joints, bracing and support points?","id":"intervention-basis-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Which handling or conservation actions has the custodian authorized, and what further assessment is required before any mechanical test?","id":"intervention-basis-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"evidence-and-external-alignment","name":"Evidence and external alignment","description":"What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.","layers":[{"id":"reported-evidence","name":"Reported evidence","description":"Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-confidence-notes","name":"Check these first","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these check these first hold for the sense of Gossamer Condor this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-confidence-notes-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation","name":"Standards and regulation","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of Gossamer Condor this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-real-world-use","name":"Real-world use","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Gossamer Condor this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-real-world-use-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-measurements","name":"Typical measurements","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Gossamer Condor this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-measurements-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards","name":"Failure modes and hazards","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Gossamer Condor this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-neighbours","name":"Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Gossamer Condor this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-neighbours-q01","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Identify the original aircraft, replicas and images from documented features.","Describe its record flight and design approach from historical sources.","Record the condition of the preserved aircraft for its custodians."],"mustNot":["Present a replica or a later related aircraft as the original.","Handle or move the fragile original without the custodian's authority.","Misattribute the achievement among the people who designed and flew it.","Encourage untrained people to fly copies without proper safety measures."],"requiresHuman":["Any physical handling, loan or conservation of the original aircraft."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["A celebrated achievement should credit the whole team accurately.","Fragile historic objects belong to public memory and can be lost to careless handling."],"affectedParties":["Museum custodians","The design team and pilot","Visitors"]},"owners":{"steward":"The museum that holds the original; the public as heritage.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q63244757","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.gossamer-condor","Wikidata: Q1417056 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1417056)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Configuration reference: Dated drawing, photograph, test record or artifact record","Representation status: Design description | historical configuration | preserved artifact | replica | scale model | depiction | unresolved","Wing geometry: Span in m; area in m²; configuration and measurement method required","Aircraft mass basis: kg; distinguish empty aircraft, equipped aircraft and aircraft with pilot","Pilot mechanical output: W over a stated duration; measured or estimated; measurement location specified","Propulsion transmission: Configuration-specific pedal, transmission and propeller arrangement; unresolved where undocumented","Control arrangement: Pilot input linked to actuated surface or deformation and observed aircraft response","Flight conditions: Airspeed and wind in m/s; height above ground in m; duration in s","Structural and covering condition: Component-level observations of tubing, bracing, joints and film; inspected | uninspected | unresolved","Permitted intervention: Display | inspect | handle | conserve | test, each with authorizing evidence or unknown"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Very large, slender wing with a thin transparent covering and wire bracing.","A forward canard surface ahead of a small pilot gondola.","A single large pusher propeller driven by pedals."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["Match a candidate aircraft, component or image to a documented Gossamer Condor configuration.","Compare development configurations to identify changes in mass, geometry, controls and repair strategy.","Assess whether a performance claim specifies pilot effort, loading, conditions and supporting observations.","Trace the prize-winning flight claim to records of the course, pilot, date and adjudication.","Prepare an evidence-based inspection or conservation request for identified components.","Flag proposed handling or operation when present condition or authorization is unresolved."]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["The ultralight structure is easily damaged by wind, handling or impact.","Human-powered flight close to the ground leaves little margin in gusts.","Ageing covering materials degrade with light and time."]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["The Code of Ethics for Museums, issued by the International Council of Museums, provides professional standards for museum stewardship and conservation of the aircraft."]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["The aircraft was developed to demonstrate controlled human-powered flight and complete the course required for a human-powered aviation prize.","It is encountered in aviation history, engineering education and museum conservation as evidence of lightweight construction and low-speed flight design."]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q1417056: Gossamer Condor","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1417056","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: MacCready Gossamer Condor","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacCready_Gossamer_Condor","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Which authoritative drawings and test logs establish the exact prize-flight geometry, mass, transmission and control arrangement?","How do documented early configurations differ from the prize-winning configuration and the preserved artifact?","What do contemporary Kremer rules and adjudication records specify beyond the summarized figure-eight requirement?","Which performance figures were directly measured, which were estimated, and under what loading and weather conditions?","What are the artifact's current component authenticity, condition, handling restrictions and intervention permissions?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q1417056/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q1417056/spec.json"],"providers":["Codex"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-12T10:03:21Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:26+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}