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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[2]
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).[2] 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.[3] After a crash in 1963 which caused damage to the fragile structure it was decided to retire the aircraft although it had been repaired.[2]
^Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1963). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 120–121.
Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1963). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 34–36.
sumpac, southampton, university, powered, aircraft, november, 1961, became, first, human, powered, aeroplane, make, officially, authenticated, take, flight, designed, built, southampton, university, students, between, 1960, 1961, attempt, kremer, prize, never,. 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 1 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 2 SUMPAC SUMPAC on display at the Solent Sky museum Role Human powered aircraft First flight 9 November 1961 Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications SUMPAC 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyDesign and development editThe 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 2 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 2 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 3 After a crash in 1963 which caused damage to the fragile structure it was decided to retire the aircraft although it had been repaired 2 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 SUMPAC editData from The World s Sailplanes Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II 2 4 5 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 24 ft 9 in 7 54 m Wingspan 80 ft 1 in 24 4 m Wing area 300 sq ft 27 9 m2 Aspect ratio 21 3 Airfoil NACA 65a 818 Empty weight 128 lb 58 1 kg Gross weight 268 lb 121 6 kg Performance Never exceed speed 21 mph 33 km h 18 kn g limits 1 5 1 at 26 4 km h 16 4 mph 14 3 kn Maximum glide ratio 34 at 105 km h 65 2 mph 56 7 kn Rate of sink 37 ft min 0 19 m s at 27 km h 16 8 mph 14 6 kn Lift to drag 36 at 32 km h 19 9 mph 17 3 kn Wing loading 0 89 lb sq ft 4 35 kg m2 See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era HMPAC Puffin HPA Toucan Malliga 1 MacCready Gossamer Albatross MacCready Gossamer Condor Goodhart Newbury Manflier Southend MPG MayflyReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to SUMPAC Notes edit BBC News web site Retrieved 15 November 2012 a b c d e Guttery 1969 p 70 Details of SUMPAC Shenstone B S K G Wilkinson 1963 The World s Sailplanes Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II in English French and German 1st ed Zurich Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile OSTIV and Schweizer Aero Revue pp 120 121 Flight International 23 December 1971 p1014 Bibliography edit Shenstone B S K G Wilkinson 1963 The World s Sailplanes Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II in English French and German 1st ed Zurich Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile OSTIV and Schweizer Aero Revue pp 34 36 Guttery T E The Shuttleworth Collection London Wm Carling amp Co 1969 SBN 901319 01 5 Man powered flight advances Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SUMPAC amp oldid 1144124766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
