List of human-powered aircraft

This is a list of human-powered aircraft by date.

TypeimageCountryDateClassDesigner / builderNotes
Abhilasha HPANetherlands2009Jesse van Kuijk
AeroVelo AtlasCanada2013HelicopterTodd Reichert; Cameron RobertsonWinner of Igor I. Sikorsky Human-Powered Helicopter Challenge with 64 s controlled flight, reaching 3.3 m above ground.
Airglow HPAUK1990John and Mark McIntyre
Bauer BirdUSA1973BiplaneTed BauerBuilt by Bauer's eight-grade students at San Gabriel Academy.[1]
BetterflyUK2009David Barford950 m max. distance. Capable of 120° turn. Very stable and easy to fly
Bionic BatUSA1984Paul MacCready Jr.Two Kremer speed challenges won, doing 1500 m in 163.28 seconds on 18 July 1984 and 143.08 seconds on 2 December 1984.
Bird OrnithopterUKOrnithopterBryn BirdTwo prototypes built, but no record of any flights.
Bliesner 1 to 3USA1978Wayne T. BliesnerUnsuccessful precursors to Bliesners more successful efforts. No. 3 crashed during towed-flight attempts.
Bliesner 4USA1979Wayne T. Bliesner100 yards.
Bliesner 5USA1980Wayne T. Bliesner1 mile, crashed during testing.
Bliesner 6USA1980Wayne T. BliesnerA few hops, crashed during testing.
Bliesner 7USA1981Wayne T. Bliesner300 yards.
Boffin-CoffinNew Zealand1988Don WaltherProne pilot position; tandem wing; pusher propeller. Flight trials, commencing in 1987, were unsuccessful, eventually abandoned after persistent ground-handling damage and a violent gust of wind entering the hangar where the aircraft was stored.
Chyeranovskii BICh-18USSR1937Only known to have been launched as a glider with the wing mechanism locked, but flown at least once with the wings operated by the pilot after a launch as a glider.
Cochkanoff HPAUSSR1974Orest Cochkanoff
Cook MusflyUK1977David CookTwo-place weight-shift tailless HPA. Incomplete
Cranfield VertigoUK1987Andrew CranfieldHuman-powered helicopter; transmission problems slowed development.
CT-2.2 RockHopper2Japan2005Yoshiyasu Hirano / CoolthrustFlew over 18 km at the 29th Japan international Birdman Rally in 2005 piloted by Sosuke Tanaka.
Czerwinski HPACanada1967CzerwinskiA two-seater with twin propellers built in Ottawa, but no record of any flights.
DaSH PAUSA2015Alec Proudfoot[2]
Da Vinci IIUSA1988HelicopterCalifornia Polytechnic State University
Da Vinci III[3]USA1989HelicopterCalifornia Polytechnic State University7 s, height 0.2 m, flight not controlled by pilot.
Druiff-Neate CycloplaneUK1909built by Messrs. C. G. Spencer & Co.
Dumbo-MercuryUK1971P. K. Green, W. F. Ball and M. J. Rudd / Weybridge MPAGOriginally nickname "Dumbo" at Weybridge. When taken over by John Potter at RAF Cranwell, it was renamed Mercury.
Dumoulin tracteur pour la navigation aérienneFrance1904BiplaneDumoulinA human-powered circular-winged biplane with Archimedean screw propellers turned by hand.[4]
DUT Icarus 001NetherlandsDelft University of TechnologyWith the Movement Science Faculty of the University of Maastricht.
Egret IJapan1973Kimura / Nihon University37 yards.
Egret 2Japan1974Kimura / Nihon University222 yards.
Egret 3Japan1974Kimura / Nihon University
Farman Aviette HPAFrance1912
Flycycle1974
Frost Emmett HPANew Zealand1970sJohn Frost / University of AucklandRevisited 1984
Gamera HPHUSA1972HelicopterUniversity of Maryland
Gamera II HPHUSA2012HelicopterUniversity of MarylandDuration 65 s, height < 1 ft
Gerhardt CycleplaneUSA1923MultiplaneFlight Test Section at McCook Field20-foot (6.1 m) hop.
Gokuraku TomboJapan1986Team AeroscepsySeveral HPAs built by the team are called the same. Two Japanese records set under the FAI rules: 4.437 km (May 1992) and 10.881 km (Aug. 2003). The 22nd Japan International Birdman Rally (JIBR) HPA section won, 23.688 km. The first HPA reached the opposite shore (northwest shore) of Lake Biwa from start point at east shore. The 30th JIBR HPA won time-trial section. Piloted by Hironori Nakayama.
Goodhart Newbury ManflierUK1979Nicholas GoodhartTwo-seater with separate pods; pilot control tasks shared.
Gossamer AlbatrossUSA1978Paul MacCready Jr. & Peter LissamanKremer Prize for first cross-channel flight, 12 June 1979. Two records set, both superseded: 35.82 km straight distance [5] and 2h 49 min Duration.[6]
Gossamer Condor (Pasadena version)USA1976Paul MacCready Jr. & Peter LissamanOne short hop only, in the car park of the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
Gossamer Condor (Mojave version)USA1976Paul MacCready Jr. & Peter Lissaman(Mojave version)
Gossamer Condor (Shafter airport version)USA1977Paul MacCready Jr. & Peter LissamanKremer prize for figure-eight course, 1.15 miles (1850 m), 7 min 25 s flight, 23 August 1977.[7]
Halton JupiterUK1972Christopher Roper /John Potter1171 m, 1 min 47 s flight[8]
Hardy HPARoger Hardy
Hartman IkarusUK1959Emiel Hartman
Hill Flying WingHill
HMPAC Puffin 1UK1961Wimpenny, Vann & Hatfield Man Powered Aircraft Club993 yards.
HMPAC Puffin 2UK1965Wimpenny, Vann & Hatfield Man Powered Aircraft Club875 yards, height 17 feet, turns.
Aviette HurelFrance1974Maurice HurelFlight trials in June 1974 [9]
HV-1 MufliGermany1935Helmut Haessler & F. VillingerMUSKELFLUG INSTITUT (Institute of Muscle-Powered-Flight)

At the Gesellschaft Polytechnic, Frankfurt, director – Oskar Ursinus – 779 yards from bungee launch. Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie 1944[10]

HVSGermany1982Hütter/Villinger/SchüleOperated in 20 mph winds.
HYPER-CHick "KoToNo Limited"Japan1992Toshiaki Yoshikawa / Team Active GalsFirst female flight in Japan on 5 July 1992, with Kotono Hori as pilot. 119.45 m (130.19 yards) / 22.98 seconds
Ibis HPAJapan1978Nihon UniversityFurther development of the Jupiter – Stork line.
Icarus HPA-1USA1977Taras Kiceniuk Jr.Longest flight of 30 seconds at Shafter Airport.
Kiceniuk Icarus1975Taras Kiceniuk Jr.WIGE HPAC project[11]
Kohm Lady GodivaUSA1982Thomas Kohm et alReplica of the MacCready Gossamer Albatross. First "girl-powered" HPA
Linnet IJapan1966Prof. Kimura / Research Institute of Science and Technology, Nihon University47 yards, height 9 feet.
Linnet IIJapan1967Prof. Kimura / Research Institute of Science and Technology, Nihon University100 yards, height 5 feet.
Linnet IIIJapan1970Prof. Kimura / Research Institute of Science and Technology, Nihon University34 yards.
Linnet IVJapan1971Prof. Kimura / Research Institute of Science and Technology, Nihon University66 yards.
Lippisch 1929 Man-Powered OrnithopterGermany1929OrnithopterAlexander LippischFlown by Hans Werner Krause.
LiverpuffinUK1972Keith SherwinBuilt from the remains of the Puffin II by students from Liverpool University led by Sherwin.
Malliga 1 HPAAustria1967Josef Malliga[12]
Malliga 2 HPAAustria1972Josef Malliga[12]
Man-Eagle 1USA1982Wayne T. BliesnerShort flights a.k.a. "Bliesner 8".
Man-Eagle 3USA1983Wayne T. BliesnerKremer Speed Course.
Man-Eagle 4USA1985Wayne T. Bliesner
Maruoka Man-Powered Screw-Wing MachineJapan1902Katsura Maruoka[13]
Southend MPG MayflyUK1965Brian Kerry
McAvoy MPA-1USA1962James M. McAvoyGeorgia Tech.
Michelob Light EagleUSA1986Mark Drela / Massachusetts Institute of Technology37 miles. Onboard test equipment.
MiLan'81Japan1981Naito / Nihon University645 yards.
MiLan'82Japan1982Naito / Nihon University1800 yards.
MIT BURDUSA1973BiplaneMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyFirst of several HPAs built by MIT students. Did not fly.
MIT BURD IIUSA1976BiplaneMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCopy of the original BURD. Did not fly.
MIT ChrysalisUSA1979BiplaneParks & Youngren / Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyOver a four month period, made 345 flights with 44 different pilots.
MIT Daedalus 87USA1987Drela / Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMIT Daedalus Project.
MIT Daedalus 88USA1988Drela / Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMIT Daedalus Project. 1988 Crete to Santorini flight, official FAI world records for total distance (119 km), straight-line distance, and duration (3 h 55 min) for human-powered aircraft.
MIT Monarch AUSA1983Mark Drela / Massachusetts Institute of Technology29 flights.
MIT Monarch BUSA1984Drela / Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyWon the £20,000 first prize for the Kremer World Speed Competition.
Möwe6-BJapan1989Nihon University Aero Student Group (NASG)First Japanese record set under the FAI rules. Distance: 3.708 km (Mar. 1990)
Möwe20Japan2002Nihon University Aero Student Group (NASG)The 27th Japan International Birdman Rally (JIBR) HPA section won, 34.654 km. Pilot was not exhausted but took water by organizer direction because the HPA reached end of flyable area (southwest side of Lake Biwa) (Jul. 2003) – straight-distance record in JIBR. Japanese record set under the FAI rules. 11.874 km / 46 min 40 s (Aug. 2004). Piloted by Kai Hirawata.
Möwe21Japan2003Nihon University Aero Student Group (NASG)Japanese records set under the FAI rules. 49.172 km, 1 h 48 min 12 s (6 Aug. 2005). Current Japanese records. Piloted by Nariyuki Masuda.
Mozi HPAChina2009OXAI Aircraft Company / Mao Yiqing
Musculair IGermany1984Günther Rochelt & SchoberlTwo different prizes; first passenger.
Musculair IIGermany1985Günther Rochelt & SchoberlKremer Speed Prize.
Nakamura MP-X-6Japan1969Eiji Nakamura[14]
Nextz [ja]Japan2009Team 'F'Winner of 33rd Japan International Birdman Rally HPA time-trial section. First Japanese record of speed under the FAI rules: 1500 m in 3 min 15 s = 27.69 km/h (22 Oct. 2012). As of 2012 current Japanese record.
Nieuport Aviette 1921France1921
Northrop Institute of Technology HPAUSA1972Malcolm Smith / NITTwo-seater; not completed.
Onigkeit 1938Germany1938Otto OnigkeitFlugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie 1944[15]
PedalianteItaly1936Enea Bossi & Vittorio Bonomi40 unaided flights?
Pelargos 2Switzerland1983Horlacher/Mohlin/Dubs1100 yards.
Pelargos 3Switzerland1985Horlacher/Mohlin/Frank875 yards.
Perkins Inflatable HPAUSA1959InflatableDaniel PerkinsPrecursor to the Reluctant Phoenix.
Perkins Reluctant PhoenixUK1966InflatableDaniel PerkinsThe culmination of Daniel Perkins' attempts to build a viable inflatable human-powered aircraft; flown inside the R100 airship hangars.
Phillips Mk.1 HPAUK1976 ?Ron PhillipsFirst female pilot.
Phillips Mk.2 HPAUK1976 ?Ron PhillipsTwo-seater.
Polniak LP DedalPoland1972Leon Polniak
Polniak LP Dedal-2Poland1975Leon Polniak
Posniak HPANetherlands1936B. Posniak
Poulain/Farman AvietteFrance1921Gabriel Poulain / Farman
Prestwick Dragonfly MPA Mk 1Scotland1975Roger Hardy
Privett HPAUSADoug PrivettCannot take off without a ground-crew assist[9]
PSU ZephyrusUSA2011Pennsylvania State University
Raven ProjectUSA2001Paul Illian
RayJapan2008Tohoku University Windnauts (HPA club at Tohoku University)Winner of 32nd Japan International Birdman Rally (JIBR) HPA – distance section. 36 km round-trip; 18 km one-way (longest distance under the rules at the time). Piloted by Wataru Nishiwaki; round-trip distance record in JIBR.
Rickman umbrella wingUK1909Rickman
Royal SpoonbillUK1983Robert Le Johnno-Johnson / NZHPFGNever completed due to a redesign after being vandalised.[citation needed]
Seehase MD-2Germany1937Hans Seehase
Singapore University Man powered Aircraft 1
Singapore University Man powered Aircraft 2
SingaporeSingapore University students / Keith SherwinOf the two projects, only one flew.
Smolkowski-Laviolette biplaneCanada1964Alvin Smolkowski and Maurice LavioletteTowed flights
Sato Maeda SM-OXJapan1969Hiroshi Sato, Kenichi Maeda / Fukuoka Daiichi Highschool Department of Aeroengine31 yards, height 6 feet.
Snowbird HPOCanada2010University of Toronto
Stewart HPOsUK1959OrnithopterAlan StewartSeveral unsuccessful human-powered ornithopters built between 1959 and 1979.
Stork A [ja]Japan1976Junji Ishii [ja] / Nihon University651 yards. Re-designed (smaller) from the UK Jupiter.[8]
Stork B [ja]Japan1977Junji Ishii [ja] / Nihon University2094 m, 4 min 28 s flight.[8]
SUMPACUK1961Ann Marsden, Alan Lassiere & David Williams / Southampton University Man-powered Aircraft CommitteeFirst independently observed unaided flight. Flown by Derek Piggott.
Swift AJapanNaito / Nihon University
Swift BJapanNaito / Nihon University
To Phoenix Inflatable HPAUK1982InflatableFrederick E. To / Air-Plane Co. Ltd.[16]
Toucan 1UK1972Pressnell / Hertfordshire Pedal Aeronauts700 yards. Two-seater, span 123 ft. Bryan Bowen & Derek May[17]
Toucan IIUK1974Pressnell / Hertfordshire Pedal Aeronauts
UpturnUSA2012HelicopterNTS Works Upturnduration 10 s, height 0.60 m
Ursinus 1925 HPAGermany1925Oskar Ursinus
Vélair 89Germany1989Peer Frank3390 yards
Vine HPASouth Africa1962S. W. Vine200 yards. One flight only at Krugersdorp, Transvaal, South Africa.
VMM HPABelgium1974Verstralte/Masschelin/MasschelinHeights of 15 ft at Calais-Marck airport due to Belgian authorities refusing permission to fly.[18]
White Dwarf blimpUSA1984AirshipBill WatsonBuilt for the comedian Gallagher and seen in Showtime special Over Your Head. Set records in airship categories BA-1 through BA-10 for distance (93.36 km)[19] and duration (8 h 50 min 12 s).[20][21]
Wright MicronUK1976Peter Wright
Wright MPA Mk 1UK1972Peter Wright300 yards at 4 feet. Elevator not used.
Yuri I HPH [ja]Japan1994HelicopterAkira Naito, Nihon Aero Student Group (NASG)Duration 19.5 s, height 0.2 m
Zaschka Human-Power AircraftGermany1934Engelbert Zaschka
Zephyrus βJapan1997Ochanomizu Human-powered aircraft study groupJapanese female record set under the FAI rules, 1.004 km in 3 min 3 s. (16 Nov. 1997). Piloted by Chihiro Muraoka – current Japanese female records.
Zinno Olympian ZB-1USA1976Lt.Col. Joe Zinno, USAF (Ret.)First successful American HPA.

See also

References

Further reading

  • Reay, David Anthony (1977). The history of man-powered flight. Oxford: Pergamon. ISBN 0-08-021738-9.