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human-powered aircraft
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human-powered aircraft

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Human-powered aircraft are very lightweight, sophisticated vehicles designed with significant computer assistance and modern materials. These aircraft rely on human power for propulsion. A leading figure in this field was Paul MacCready, who achieved fame with the Gossamer Condor, a human-powered aircraft that completed a short course in 1977. His later designs, the Gossamer Albatross and the solar-powered Solar Challenger, successfully crossed the English Channel. The development of human-powered aircraft continues, with a human-powered helicopter having been flown. These aircraft are distinct from conventional airplanes, which require engines for thrust.1

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. history of flight - The generation and application of power: the problem of propulsion
  2. airplane - Heavier-than-air
  3. helicopter - Powered lift
  4. airplane - Thrust controls

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