Pedal-powered plane flaps its wings like a bird

A pedal-powered ornithopter is the most beautiful, environmentally benign, but physically demanding way to travel by air.

Environmentally-friendly flying

Engineering students at the University of Toronto designed and built the ‘Snowbird’ ornithopter and in August this year made what they are confident is new world record for an aircraft of this kind.

The Snowbird managed to sustain both altitude and airspeed for 19.3 seconds, covering a distance of 145 meters at an average speed of 25.6 km/h.

The record-braking flight is expected to be confirmed by aviation authorities in October.

The Snowbird’s pilot, Todd Reichert, said: “The use of human power, when walking or cycling, is an efficient, reliable, healthy and sustainable form of transportation. Though the aircraft is not a practical method of transport, it is also meant to act as an inspiration to others to use the strength of their body and the creativity of their mind to follow their dreams.”

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The Snowbird and Solar Impulse carry a single person and fly only in certain weather, but technology can move incredibly fast – it was only 66 years after the first powered flight in 1903 that we landed on the moon.”

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