After successful sustained flight, researchers see future in
manned bird-like flapping-wing ornithopter aircraft
By Justin Wastnage
The Canadian team behind the first sustained flight of an
ornithopter flapping wings-powered aircraft believes the prospect
of a manned craft is now real, despite video evidence showing the
experimental craft suffered a buckled trailing-edge in the
attempt.
The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies has been
working on the piloted Ornithopter concept since the early 1990s,
with a proof of concept accelerating to rotation speed in 1999. The
ornithopter (C-GPTR) performed its first sustained flight on 8 July
on the final of three test runs. Once the aircraft reached forward
speed of around 43kt (80km/h) the wings were given maximum
throttle, flapping at a rate of 1Hz, lifting the aircraft off the
runway at Toronto Downsview airport for 10s of straight and level
flight at 48kt.
The ornithopter reached an altitude of around 1m (3ft 3in) and flew
for around 330m (1,100ft) before the pilot Jack Sanderson thought
he had hit cross wing and throttled back to bring the aircraft
down. The team has since concluded that the trailing-edge section
of the left wing buckled, caused by the flight loads coupled with
the flapping loads. The aileron-less aircraft's left wing touched
the tarmac, leading the ornithopter to tip, spin around and
collapse the nose gear.
The aircraft had a maximum take-off weight of 350kg (770lb), but
the team estimates the wing could have lifted only 270kg before
bucking.
James DeLaurier, the researcher leading the ornithopter project
says the flight, which lasted a total of 14s has crossed a
psychological barrier regarding the feasibility of a full-scale
flapping-wing aircraft. "The flapper's few seconds of sustained
flight brings the notion [of human-carrying ornithopters] into the
realm of reality," he says.
The project is now looking for funding to build a new wing
optimised for the actual aircraft weight. If this is not found, the
ornithopter will be rebuilt for the Toronto Aerospace Museum.
Video clip:
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/08/31/Navigation/177/208773/Video+After+successful+sustained+flight%2c+researchers+see+future+in+manned+bird-like+flapping-wing.html
