List of human-powered aircraft

{{Short description|none}}

{{More footnotes needed|date=February 2016}}

{{List of Aircraft TOC}}

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

{{Clear}}

class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"

!Type

!image

!Country

!Date

!Class

!Designer / builder

!Notes

|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 BirdUSA1973Biplane

| Ted Bauer

Built by Bauer's eight-grade students at San Gabriel Academy.{{cite magazine|last1=Wahl |first1=Paul|date=February 1974|title=Who Will Take Aviation's Richest Prize?|magazine=Popular Science |location=New York, NY| publisher=Times Mirror Magazines, Inc, Inc|volume=204 |number=2|pages=90–92, 136–137 |issn=0148-7191 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWTF3my04Q0C&dq=who%20will%20take%20aviation's%20richest%20prize%3F&pg=PA90 |access-date=9 April 2023}}
|BetterflyUK2009David Barford950 m max. distance. Capable of 120° turn. Very stable and easy to fly
|BHI PHANTOMJapan2021Yuta Watanabe / BIRDMAN HOUSE IGAWinner of 45th Japan International Birdman Rally (JIBR 2023) HPA division. 69.68242 km round-trip along a 70 km V-shape course (18-17-17-18 km). Piloted by Yuta Watanabe; Flight distance record in JIBR.{{cite web

| url = https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/780700

| title = Winner of the JAPAN INTERNATIONAL BIRDMAN RALLY for the third time!

| date = 5 October 2023

| website = 中日新聞Web

| publisher = Chunichi Shimbun Co., Ltd.

| access-date = 19 July 2024

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ytv.co.jp/birdman/history/

| title = 大会の歴史|鳥人間コンテスト|読売テレビ

| website = 鳥人間コンテスト公式サイト

| publisher = Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation

| language = ja

| access-date = 19 July 2024

}}

|BHI PHOENIXJapan2017Yuta Watanabe / BIRDMAN HOUSE IGAWinner of 40th and 42nd Japan International Birdman Rally (JIBR 2017 and 2019) HPA division.
In 2017, 40.000 km completed round-trip flight along a 40 km out-and-return course (20-20 km).{{cite web

| url = https://mainichi.jp/articles/20191016/k00/00m/040/078000c

| title = 琵琶湖をふわり60キロ「仲間のおかげ」 BIRDMAN HOUSE 伊賀、鳥人間コンテスト連覇 | 毎日新聞

| date = 16 October 2019

| website = 毎日新聞

| publisher = The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.

| language = ja

| access-date = 4 November 2024

}}
In 2019, 60.000 km completed round-trip flight around a 60 km triangle closed circuit course (19-22-19 km). Piloted by Yuta Watanabe; Flight distance record in JIBR in 2017 - 2019 and 2019 - 2023.

|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{{cite news | url = http://www.hmbreview.com/news/aviation-enthusiasts-pedal-human-power/article_3dce9a14-9d2f-11e5-a541-cf840f44fbb0.html | title = Aviation enthusiasts pedal human power | date = 2015-12-07 | author = Clay Lambert | work = Half Moon Bay Review}}
|Da Vinci IIUSA1988HelicopterCalifornia Polytechnic State University
|Da Vinci III{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-07-ve-378-story.html|title=Pedal Power : Cal Poly Uses Bicyclist to Get Human-Driven Helicopter Off the Ground|first=SHANNON|last=FARLEY|date=7 December 1989|via=LA Times}}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.{{cite book |last=Opdycke |first=Leonard E. |title=French Aeroplanes before the Great War |year=1999 |publisher=Schiffer Publishing Limited |location=Atglen |isbn=0-7643-0752-5|author-link=Leonard E. Opdycke}}
|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
|Fokker INetherlands1931Built by brothers Jan and Cor FokkerMade two towed flights
|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 Field{{convert|20|ft|adj=on}} 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 {{Cite web |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=392 |title=Fai Record File |access-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305202858/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=392 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }} and 2h 49 min Duration.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=393 |title=Fai Record File |access-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305201844/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=393 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}
|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.Popular Science jan 1978
|Halton JupiterUK1972Christopher Roper /John Potter1171 m, 1 min 47 s flightPopular Science may 1977
|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 Popular Science, February 1974.
|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{{cite book |last=Schneider |first=Helmut (Dipl. Ing.) |title=Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie |date=1944 |publisher=Herm. Beyer Verlag |location=Leipzig |isbn=381120484X |edition=Facsimile reprint 1986 |language=de |pages=346–347}}

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{{Cite web |date=2020-11-12 |title= |url=http://www.icarusengineering.com/HPA-first-flight1975web.JPG |access-date=2022-06-08 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014022/http://www.icarusengineering.com/HPA-first-flight1975web.JPG |archive-date=12 November 2020 |url-status=dead}}
|Kohm Lady GodivaUSA1982Thomas Kohm et al.Replica 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{{cite book|last1=Keimel|first1=Reinhard|title=Propeller-Luftfahrzeugkonstruktionen seit 1945|date=1980|publisher=H. Weishaupt Verlag|location=Graz|isbn=3-900310-02-5|edition=1. Aufl.}}
|Malliga 2 HPAAustria1972Josef Malliga
|Maniatis MPAUSA1979Michael ManiatisTested at Mitchel Field, NY. Did not fly.
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{{cite book |last1=Mikesh |first1=Robert |title=Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941 |year=1990 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-85177-840-2 |last2=Shorzoe |first2=Abe |page=21}}
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{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1970–71 |year=1970 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company |location=London |isbn=978-0-354-00067-3 |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=John W.R. |page=158}}
|{{ill|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{{cite book |last=Schneider |first=Helmut (Dipl.Ing.) |title=Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie |date=1944 |publisher=Herm. Beyer Verlag |location=Leipzig |isbn=381120484X |edition=Facsimile reprint 1986 |language=de |page=348}}
|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
|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; completed out-and-return course of 18 km one-way (longest distance under the rules at the time). Piloted by Wataru Nishiwaki; round-trip distance record in JIBR until 2017.
|Rickman umbrella wingUK1909Rickman
|Royal SpoonbillUK1983Robert Le Johnno-Johnson / NZHPFGNever completed due to a redesign after being vandalised.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason=If this design was unfinished, what makes it notable?}}
|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.
{{ill|Stork A|ja|ストーク (人力飛行機)}}Japan1976{{ill|Junji Ishii|ja|石井潤治}} / Nihon University651 yards. Re-designed (smaller) from the UK Jupiter.
{{ill|Stork B|ja|ストーク (人力飛行機)}}50pxJapan1977{{ill|Junji Ishii|ja|石井潤治}} / Nihon University2094 m, 4 min 28 s flight.
|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 PhoenixUK1981InflatableFrederick E. To / Air-Plane Co. Ltd.{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83 |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=John W.R. |year=1983 |edition=73rd |publisher=Jane's Publishing Company |location=London |isbn=0710607482 |pages=518–519}}
|Toucan 1UK1972Pressnell / Hertfordshire Pedal Aeronauts700 yards. Two-seater, span 123 ft. Bryan Bowen & Derek MayPopular science, February 1974.
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.{{cite book |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=John W. R. |title=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975–76 |date=1975 |publisher=Franklin Watts Inc. |location=New York|isbn=978-0531032503 |edition=66th annual |page=12}}
|White Dwarf (dirigible)USA1984AirshipBill 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){{Cite web |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=449 |title=Fai Record File |access-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200300/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=449 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }} and duration (8 h 50 min 12 s).{{Cite web |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=439 |title=Fai Record File |access-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200153/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=439 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/white_dwarf.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033623/http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/white_dwarf.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}
|Wright MicronUK1976Peter Wright
|Wright MPA Mk 1UK1972Peter Wright300 yards at 4 feet. Elevator not used.
|{{ill|Yuri I HPH|ja|YURI-I}}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{{snd}} current Japanese female records.
|Zinno Olympian ZB-1USA1976Lt.Col. Joe Zinno, USAF (Ret.)First successful American HPA.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

{{main|List of aircraft#Further reading}}

  • {{cite book |last1=Reay |first1=David Anthony |title=The history of man-powered flight |date=1977 |publisher=Pergamon |location=Oxford |isbn=0-08-021738-9}}