A major milestone in aviation occurred this past August, when the human-powered Snowbird, an aircraft made of carbon fiber and balsa wood, achieved the first successful flight of its kind.
Though it may sound like a relatively low-tech accomplishment, the feat has been attempted for centuries without favorable outcome. Until University of Toronto PhD student Todd Reichert and team finally did it. Watch below.
"The use of human power, when walking or cycling, is an efficient, reliable, healthy and sustainable form of transportation. Though the aircraft is not a practical method of transport, it is also meant to act as an inspiration to others to use the strength of their body and the creativity of their mind to follow their dreams."
8 Comments
Im a little let down to see it needing a tow cable to take off.
i have to agree. why can't he start like a cormoran. I guess it is a beginning. but he only stayed in the air 19.3 seconds.
Sure, it only stayed up for less that 20 seconds. But it FLAPS ITS WINGS! as a first step that's freekeen awesome. It's a better one than I can build, that's for sure.
Human powered ornithopter. Flapping airplane. Dozens of human powered airplanes driven by propellers have been made. please change the title...
check out phys.org for more details - http://www.physorg.com/news204386550.html
first "victorious" (successful) flight. not first human powered plane made
Very clever title.
first successful human powered ornithopter flight. First flapping wing human powered airplane that flies. not first "victorious" human powered airplane flight. Seriously, search google for human powered airplane. Metric #$%@ tons have been made that flew for quite a while.
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