Human-powered airplane that mimics a flying bird takes flight

Aviation has come a long way since Wright Brothers took their maiden flight. Yet, it isn’t bad to look back in time and come up with creations that aren’t all that fancy (by today’s standards that is), but cater to the much need green cause. This is what University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies targeted and thus built a human-powered airplane with flapping wings. Dubbed the Snowbird, the human-powered airplane made its record-breaking flight on August 2 at the Great Lakes Gliding Club in Tottenham, Ontario. The Snowbird that weighs in at 94lbs with a wing span of 32 meters had a lovely flight of 145 meters at an average speed of 25.6kph. Hit the jump to see the plane in action.

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Via: ZdNet/EcoFriend