AeroVelo Captures Sikorsky Prize

Dean Sigler Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

This was not their first rodeo.  Core members of the AeroVelo human-powered helicopter team, “Have been working together since 2006 on the world record setting Snowbird Human-Powered Ornithopter as well as the series of high-speed streamlined bicycles. Over the course of the various projects we have built a wealth of experience in human performance, lightweight composite construction, and advanced aerodynamic design.” Their Snowbird maintained altitude for 19.3 seconds on only human power.  Even though towed into the air, it flew on its own after the pilot released the towrope.  The beauty of this flight is so compelling the footage has been used in Honda commercials. Their record attempt streamlined bicycles are part of a series that make attempts on the human-powered land speed record. According to AeroVelo, “In both 2010 and 2011 the team set the Collegiate human-powered land speed records.” Aerovelo’s Vortex streamlined bicycle, one of a series of high-speed human-powered racers This level of dedication and an obvious …

Human-Powered Helicopter Prize Almost Within Reach

Dean Sigler Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

The goals seem so simple… These are the requirements for winning the A. H. Sikorsky Prize for a successful human-powered helicopter (HPH). • Build a helicopter powered only by human means • Lift off and achieve a hover time of 60 seconds • Achieve a height of 3 meters sometime during the 60 second flight • Stay within a 10 square meter area during the 60 second flight Toward those goals, the Gamera Project involves students of the Clark School of Engineering and faculty advisors from the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center in the Clark School’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. Their Gamera II flew in June and August this year and was designed by students to make an official flight duration record attempt on the Sikorsky Prize for the first human-powered helicopter to exceed a minute duration and fly at an altitude of 10 feet. According the Gamera Project web site, “On August 9, 2012, NAA (National Association of Aeronautics) announced that …

Gamera II Does 50 Seconds

Dean Sigler Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

The University of Maryland students established an unofficial world record for human-powered helicopter flight, hovering for 50 seconds and edging toward the $250,000 Sikorsky Prize offered by the American Helicopter Society.   The rules for winning are straightforward, but difficult to achieve. Build a helicopter powered only by human means Lift off and achieve a hover time of 60 seconds Achieve a height of 3 meters sometime during the 60 second flight Stay within a 10 square meter area during the 60 second flight As can be seen in last year’s record attempt, the altitude and area constraints are difficult, with little control over altitude other than adding power – already at a human maximum, and limited ability to stay within that imaginary box. According to the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, “Gamera has a rotor at each of the four ends of its X-shaped frame, with the pilot’s module suspended at the middle. Each crossbar of …