Canadian student pilots first ‘ornithopter’
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Canadian student pilots first ‘ornithopter’
Video: Canadian student pilots first ‘ornithopter’ | Posted | National Post
By Linda Nguyen
A Canadian university student has become the first person ever to pilot a human-powered “wing-flapping” airplane.
Todd Reichert, an engineering graduate student and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, accomplished the feat when he flew the aircraft “Snowbird” for 19.3 seconds on Aug. 2 at the Great Lakes Gliding Club in Tottenham, Ont.
The 42-kg plane made from carbon fibre, balsa wood and foam, travelled 145 metres at an average speed of 25.6 kilometres per hour during the flight.
“Our original goal was to complete this sort of, original aeronautical dream, to fly like a bird,” said 28-year-old Reichert on Wednesday. “The idea was to fly under your own power by flapping your wings.”
The flight, which was witnessed by a member of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), was set to be officially confirmed as record-breaking next month by the governing body.
The group stayed quiet about the record for nearly two months in order to get the data finalized, he said.
The four-year project, a brainchild of Reichert and student Cameron Robertson, was worked on by 30 students, including some from France and the Netherlands.
The plane, with a wingspan of 32 metres, was powered by Reichert, who petalled with his legs, pulling down the wings to flap. He had to endure a year-long exercise regime to bulk up on muscle and lose nearly 10-kg so he could fly the aircraft.
“Thousands of people have tried to do this for hundreds of years,” said Reichert. “To be honest, I don’t think it’s really set in yet that I’m the one who has been successful. Iwas pushing with everything Ihad. When I finally let go and landed, I was hit with a breadth of excitement. It was pretty wild.”
Reichert went through 65 practice flights, and he said the aircraft will probably never be flown again.
The students are attempting to get it into the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.
The FAI is a non-governmental and non-profit organization which aims to further aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide.
A Canadian university student has become the first person ever to pilot a human-powered “wing-flapping” airplane.
Todd Reichert, an engineering graduate student and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, accomplished the feat when he flew the aircraft “Snowbird” for 19.3 seconds on Aug. 2 at the Great Lakes Gliding Club in Tottenham, Ont.
The 42-kg plane made from carbon fibre, balsa wood and foam, travelled 145 metres at an average speed of 25.6 kilometres per hour during the flight.
“Our original goal was to complete this sort of, original aeronautical dream, to fly like a bird,” said 28-year-old Reichert on Wednesday. “The idea was to fly under your own power by flapping your wings.”
The flight, which was witnessed by a member of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), was set to be officially confirmed as record-breaking next month by the governing body.
The group stayed quiet about the record for nearly two months in order to get the data finalized, he said.
The four-year project, a brainchild of Reichert and student Cameron Robertson, was worked on by 30 students, including some from France and the Netherlands.
The plane, with a wingspan of 32 metres, was powered by Reichert, who petalled with his legs, pulling down the wings to flap. He had to endure a year-long exercise regime to bulk up on muscle and lose nearly 10-kg so he could fly the aircraft.
“Thousands of people have tried to do this for hundreds of years,” said Reichert. “To be honest, I don’t think it’s really set in yet that I’m the one who has been successful. Iwas pushing with everything Ihad. When I finally let go and landed, I was hit with a breadth of excitement. It was pretty wild.”
Reichert went through 65 practice flights, and he said the aircraft will probably never be flown again.
The students are attempting to get it into the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.
The FAI is a non-governmental and non-profit organization which aims to further aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide.
Very cool 
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Very interesting...
I can't help but wonder, especially in such a short flight, how much was simply gliding and ground effect after releasing from tow, and how much lift and thrust was from the flapping wing. The link to ornithopter.ca went to a search page, so no further info was there...
I can't help but wonder, especially in such a short flight, how much was simply gliding and ground effect after releasing from tow, and how much lift and thrust was from the flapping wing. The link to ornithopter.ca went to a search page, so no further info was there...
how much was simply gliding and ground effect after releasing from tow, and how much lift and thrust was from the flapping wing
Was it really human powered free flight??
Most successful man-powered aircraft have used either a car tow or a model aircraft engine to provide thrust whilst the pilot learned to fly the aircraft. Once controlling the aircraft can be done subconsciously then it is time to attempt the man-powered bit.
All credit to the Canadian team that they have got this far and can actually control their ornithopter whilst flapping its wings. No doubt test flights continued after the flight shown. Film crews are notorious for not hanging around until the conditions are actually right for a record attempt, so I'm not at all surprised that what we saw was an earlier one.
It should be borne in mind that the Kremer prize was won by Paul Macready, who was already a very experienced aerodynamicist and pilot. The only experts in flapping wing flight that Todd, Cameron and their team have to talk to are parrots and mynah birds.
All credit to the Canadian team that they have got this far and can actually control their ornithopter whilst flapping its wings. No doubt test flights continued after the flight shown. Film crews are notorious for not hanging around until the conditions are actually right for a record attempt, so I'm not at all surprised that what we saw was an earlier one.
It should be borne in mind that the Kremer prize was won by Paul Macready, who was already a very experienced aerodynamicist and pilot. The only experts in flapping wing flight that Todd, Cameron and their team have to talk to are parrots and mynah birds.
Last edited by Mechta; 26th Sep 2010 at 22:24.
