Today marks the 50th anniversary of the world’s first human-powered flight? when a group of University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 students designed and built SUMPAC (天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 University Man Powered Aircraft).

To commemorate this achievement? a group of University of 天发娱乐棋牌_天发娱乐APP-官网|下载 students are constructing their own human–powered aircraft (SUHPA) to be entered into the prestigious ?100,000 Kremer International Sporting Aircraft Competition, which promotes the development of human-powered aircraft (HPA).

A HPA is powered solely from human energy during take-off, cruise and landing. The first successful take-off and landing of SUMPAC was on 9 November 1961 covering a distance of over 650 metres. To win the Kremer prize, SUHPA must twice navigate a 1500 metre triangular course at five metres above ground level at a speed of not less than 17 mph.

The 2011 team, consisting of 10 fourth-year engineering undergraduates, are currently designing the aircraft using much more advanced technology than their predecessors used 50 years ago, such as the main structure of the aircraft being made almost entirely from carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP).