Foo - First legit human powered flight - of course it's pedal powered

Check this out:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/student-makes-history-with-first-ever-human-powered-flight.php

I can tell you right now it doesn't work the way you think it's going to work.

Very interesting design.

First ornithopter flight. Sadly, he didn't take off under his own power. Basically a glider with flapping wings. As much as I wanted this to happen, I was let down.

don't forget the Gossamer Condor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossamer_Condor

First ornithopter flight. Sadly, he didn't take off under his own power. Basically a glider with flapping wings. As much as I wanted this to happen, I was let down.

don't forget the Gossamer Condor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossamer_Condor

Yep, same here. And I didn't see that the tow cable ever disconnected, either.

Yeah, I can't say that was anything more than a glider, I can't tell if the flapping added in distance to the flight or not.
It didn't shake itself apart, so it did at least accomplish something.

Yeah, I can't say that was anything more than a glider, I can't tell if the flapping added in distance to the flight or not.
It didn't shake itself apart, so it did at least accomplish something.

The flapping did appear to add a little distance. But I'm not sure why that qualifies as flight because it did not maintain altitude and certainly didn't gain.



don't forget the Gossamer Condor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossamer_Condor
Exactly. That thing flew a mile, and the Albatross crossed the English channel. That's in a totally different league from a gizmo that has to be towed into the air and glides for a few yards.

The objective was to prove the feasibility of a human powered ornithopter , not that of human powered flight. This experiment worked but lacked sustainability due to workload. Each pedal stroke required 700 lbs force which wears one out quickly. The flapping wing works, the sustainability of the human, not so much. Ornithopters replicate the movement of a birds wing and birds typically use a jump off technique to get airborne which makes the use of a tow line acceptable.

The objective was to prove the feasibility of a human powered ornithopter , not that of human powered flight. This experiment worked but lacked sustainability due to workload. Each pedal stroke required 700 lbs force which wears one out quickly. The flapping wing works, the sustainability of the human, not so much. Ornithopters replicate the movement of a birds wing and birds typically use a jump off technique to get airborne which makes the use of a tow line acceptable.

So, in other words, a human powered ornithopter isn't very feasible.

Good on that crew for giving it a try, though. Looked more like a controlled glide than an honest-to-goodness flight.

BTW, the tow cable was detached completely at about 0:29 in the video.

So, in other words, a human powered ornithopter isn't very feasible.

Good on that crew for giving it a try, though. Looked more like a controlled glide than an honest-to-goodness flight.

BTW, the tow cable was detached completely at about 0:29 in the video.

It flies. They were just trying to see if da Vinci's idea had any merit. Apparently it does. The power to weight ratio of us humans is the problem.

I wouldn't say that its controlled, gliding descent was "flying". I'll wait for the story of them completing a circuit.

Damn impressive.

I wouldn't say that its controlled, gliding descent was "flying". I'll wait for the story of them completing a circuit.

Your opinion is at odds with the FAI. I think the next stop for that bird will be a museum.