The dream of human flight had been around since antiquity. Legends speak of humanoid beings with wings. There are accounts of peoples attempts to be birdmen over the centuries, many with fatal consequence as they jumped from high places. This method of flight was made repeatable with the modern wingsuit, developed in the 1990’s.
While controlled powered flight was achieved at the beginning of the 1900’s (numerous claims beyond the Wright Brothers), the first hops of human-powered aircraft came in the following decades. It was not until 1961, motivated by the Kremer Prize, when the first flights were made in SUMPAC. The first prize eventually won with the MacCready Gossamer Condor flying the figure eight course in 1977. With the same team winning the second prize, having completed a successful crossing of the English Channel with the Gossamer Albatross in 1979.
Following these feats a team from MIT built Daedalus and on the 23rd of April 1988, it was flown between Crete and Santorini, a distance of 115.11 km in 3 hours and 54 minutes. (The Light Stuff documentary)
See also:
- Wikipedia articles on: Human-powered Aircraft and a list of aircraft
- Kokako – current New Zealand Human Powered Aircraft Project, lead by Roger Warren and supported by the University of Auckland Aeronautics Club (UAC)
- TAFE Skycycle – developed in Tasmania by students in the 1990’s – Aeropedia
- Boffin Coffin – designed and developed by Mr Donald Walther of Christchurch
- Todhunter Skycycle – developed by brothers in Sydney from 1967 to 1976
- John Frost – Started developing a craft in the 1970’s, before his death, and was taken over by the Auckland Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society and subsequently given to the University of Auckland before flight trials in the mid-80’s – Aeropedia
- New Zealand Human Powered Flight Group – attempt in the 1980’s to produce a three-seater aircraft
- Ornithopter – aircraft that fly by flapping of the wings, which has been pursued over the centuries
To be expanded in the future