SUMPAC
{{Coord|50.89798|-1.39292|display=title}}
{{Short description|British human-powered aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name = SUMPAC |image = SUMPAC.JPG |caption = SUMPAC on display at the Solent Sky museum. }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |type = Human-powered aircraft |national origin = |manufacturer = |designer = |first flight = 9 November 1961 |introduction = |retired = |status = |primary user = |more users = |produced = |number built = 1 |developed from = |variants with their own articles = }} |
The Southampton University Man Powered Aircraft (or SUMPAC) on 9 November 1961 became the first human-powered aeroplane to make an officially authenticated take-off and flight.{{cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15705954
|title=BBC News web-site
|accessdate= 15 November 2012
}}
It was designed and built by Southampton university students between 1960 and 1961 for an attempt at the Kremer prize, but it was never able to complete the 'figure-of-eight' course specified to claim the prize money.Guttery 1969, p. 70.
Design and development
The aircraft was designed and built by a team of post-graduate students from Southampton University. Intended to compete for the £50,000 Kremer Prize (requiring successful completion of a one-mile (1.6 km) 'figure of eight' course) the project was funded by the Royal Aeronautical Society.
The aircraft is of conventional configuration, with the exception of a pylon mounted pusher propeller, and is constructed from balsa, plywood and aluminium alloy. Originally covered with silver-doped Nylon the aircraft now sports a transparent plastic skin on the fuselage.
The SUMPAC was powered using pedals and chains to drive a large two-bladed propeller. Piloted by noted gliding instructor and test pilot Derek Piggott, its first flight on 9 November 1961 at Lasham airfield covered a distance of 70 yards (64 m) and climbed to a height of six feet (1.8 m). The longest flight made was 650 yards (594 m) rising to a maximum height of 15 ft (4.6 m). Turns were attempted, with 80 degrees the best achieved. A total of 40 flights were made by SUMPAC.[http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/flights.html Details of SUMPAC] After a crash in 1963 which caused damage to the fragile structure it was decided to retire the aircraft although it had been repaired.
The SUMPAC is currently on display at the Solent Sky museum; it was loaned for some time to the Shuttleworth Collection but now resides in its hometown of Southampton.
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II{{cite book|last=Shenstone|first=B.S.|title=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II|year=1963|publisher=Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue|location=Zurich|pages=120-121|edition=1st|author2=K.G. Wilkinson |language=English, French, German}}Flight International, 23 December 1971 p1014
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=7.54
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=24.4
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|wing area sqm=27.9
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=21.3
|airfoil= NACA 65a 818
|empty weight kg=58.1
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=121.6
|gross weight lb=
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|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=
|eng1 type=Cyclist pilot
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=0.34
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|never exceed speed kmh=33
|never exceed speed mph=
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|g limits=+1.5 -1 at {{convert|26.4|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}}
|glide ratio=34 at {{convert|105|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}}
|sink rate ms=0.19
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note= at {{convert|27|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}}
|lift to drag=36 at {{convert|32|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}}
|wing loading kg/m2=4.35
|wing loading lb/sqft=
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}}
See also
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
- HMPAC Puffin
- HPA Toucan
- Malliga 1
- MacCready Gossamer Albatross
- MacCready Gossamer Condor
- Goodhart Newbury Manflier
- Southend MPG Mayfly
|lists=
}}
References
{{Commons category}}
=Notes=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book|last=Shenstone|first=B.S.|title=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II|year=1963|publisher=Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue|location=Zurich|pages=34–36|edition=1st|author2=K.G. Wilkinson |language=English, French, German}}
- Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5
- [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200744.html Man powered flight advances]
{{refend}}
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1961
Category:Human-powered aircraft
Category:1960s British experimental aircraft
Category:Science and technology in Hampshire
Category:University of Southampton
Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft