This looks cool I wonder how much pedaling it would take to keep it in the air? I guess once you got to a good height you could glide like a bird and pedal on and off until you get to your destination if you only wanted to go slow and steady...Like a bird



Human powered stuff at Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossamer_Albatross

I can feel my calf muscles aching already. (I'm soooo out of shape )

Looks cool, though!!

Maybe it would be easier if they made it like those paddle boats "for two"

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/Alb...l/ECN-12604.jpg



For the excercise deficient

Might be a energy effient means of travel? I mean for slow travel...

THANKS!!!!!!!

Thank you cgm for the link !!!

I have been wanting to 're-invent' the human powered ornithopter originally invented by Leonardo DaVinci. His design made use of leg as well as arm muscles, but I wanted to do it a little differently.

His design never worked, by the way. It is said to be impossible due to the design of the human body, but I think I could make it work if I emulate an almost flightless bird.

Thanks Again !!!

Go for it! Build one of these things and let me fly it when your done lol!

I think I'll have to post a new thread for that - I will need help from mechanical engineers

You bet...and a lot of money to go along with it. They used composite super light materials on that glider above so a person could fly it by pedals without extreme stress. Wonder where you can get some super light materials like they used?

Actually, I have a friend who regularly got carbon-fiber from the University here in town, and I've worked with people who had used kevlar in their work - and they let me have some, and that was 10 years ago, so I'm pretty sure it would be even easier now!

I just need a CAD/CAM type program, preferrable freeware or open source... and some info on Mechanical Engineering

What would you do with it if you made it?
Would you put a electric motor on it and a battery and fly around everywhere?

Here's a pic of DaVinci's invention that I wanted to improve upon:

Actually, I was kind of thinking of it as a more moder version of the bicycle - combination of transport and excercise equipment, but focusing on different muscle groups than the one you posted.

FYI - an ornithopter is a device that attempts to fly in the same manner as a bird, by flapping it's wings. They've been made in paper, metal, and various other materials. They have been successfully powered by rubber-bands, internal compustion engines, and just about everything other than an actual human.

Leonardo Da Vinci had the idea that a human could fly one of these using the strength of his legs and upper body. My idea is even more ridiculous than that - I think it can be done without legs - if you attempt to emulate an almost flightless bird.

Bump

Any Mechanical engineers on this forum?

Has anyone seen any Mechanical Engineering tutorials?

Nasa built the one above...It would be hard to copy maybe.
I hope you build it and it flies. Id buy one from you lol...