Human-Powered Ornithopter

Todd Reichert, a doctoral student in engineering at the University of Toronto built the world’s first successful human-powered ornithopter. That’s an aircraft that flaps its wings like a bird. This past summer, Reichert was able to bring his craft called “Snowbird” aloft for 19.3 seconds at 16 MPH.

Reichert, 28, lost 18 pounds over the summer in his quest to fly the Snowbird, which has a 105-foot wingspan (just six feet shorter than a Boeing 737) and weighs just 94 pounds. It is made of carbon fiber and balsa wood.

Video at the link.

Link | Photo: University of Toronto