The HPA Toucan is a British two-seat human-powered aircraft built and flown by members of the Hertfordshire Pedal Aeronauts and was the first two-person human-powered aircraft to fly.[1]
| Toucan | |
|---|---|
| Role | Two-seat Human-powered aircraft Type of aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Hertfordshire Pedal Aeronauts |
| First flight | 23 December 1972 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Hertfordshire Pedal Aeronauts was formed in 1965, mainly from the staff of Handley Page Limited, to design and build a human-powered aircraft and to compete for the Kremer Prize. The aircraft, unique in being powered by two persons, was designed by Martyn Pressnell. Pressnell was at the time a stress engineer with Handley Page.[1] Partly funded by a grant from the Royal Aeronautical Society construction began in 1967 and was completed in 1972.[1] Following taxying trials at Radlett Aerodrome on 16 June 1972 when brief hops were made, the aircraft made its first flight on 23 December 1972.[1][2] Flown by Bryan Bowen with Derek May as crewman the longest flight was 204 ft (62 m), the Toucan flew again on 3 July 1973 for 2,100 ft (640 m) and achieved a height of 15 to 20 ft (4.6 to 6.1 m).[1]
The Toucan is a mid-wing cantilever monoplane with the fuselage a braced structure of spruce and balsa and covered with Melinex.[1] The wing spars had spruce booms and plywood edges and the ribs were made from balsa and like the fuselage it was covered with Melenix.[1] The landing gear was a non-retractable the main wheel and tailwheel in tandem, it also had small outrigger wheels under the wings.[1] The two crew sit in tandem under a transparent removable cover, the power is generated by the two crew using bicycle pedals which were connected by chains to drive the main wheel and via a shaft a two-bladed balsa pusher propeller mounted at the rear of the tail unit.[1]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1973-74[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Related lists