{{Coord|50.89798|-1.39292|display=title}} {{Short description|British human-powered aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = SUMPAC | logo = | logo_size = | image = SUMPAC.JPG | alt = | caption = SUMPAC on display at the Solent Sky museum. | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Human-powered aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 9 November 1961 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}
The '''Southampton University Man Powered Aircraft''' (or '''SUMPAC''') on 9 November 1961 became the first human-powered aeroplane to make an officially authenticated take-off and flight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15705954 |title=BBC News web-site |accessdate= 15 November 2012 }} </ref> It was designed and built by Southampton university students between 1960 and 1961 for an attempt at the Kremer prize, but it was never able to complete the 'figure-of-eight' course specified to claim the prize money.<ref name="Guttery">Guttery 1969, p. 70.</ref>
==Design and development== The aircraft was designed and built by a team of post-graduate students from Southampton University. Intended to compete for the £50,000 Kremer Prize (requiring successful completion of a one-mile (1.6 km) 'figure of eight' course) the project was funded by the Royal Aeronautical Society.<ref name="Guttery"/>
The aircraft is of conventional configuration, with the exception of a pylon mounted pusher propeller, and is constructed from balsa, plywood and aluminium alloy. Originally covered with silver-doped Nylon the aircraft now sports a transparent plastic skin on the fuselage.
The SUMPAC was powered using pedals and chains to drive a large two-bladed propeller. Piloted by noted gliding instructor and test pilot Derek Piggott, its first flight on 9 November 1961 at Lasham airfield covered a distance of 70 yards (64 m) and climbed to a height of six feet (1.8 m).<ref name="Guttery"/> The longest flight made was 650 yards (594 m) rising to a maximum height of 15 ft (4.6 m). Turns were attempted, with 80 degrees the best achieved. A total of 40 flights were made by SUMPAC.<ref>[http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/flights.html Details of SUMPAC]</ref> After a crash in 1963 which caused damage to the fragile structure it was decided to retire the aircraft although it had been repaired.<ref name="Guttery"/>
The SUMPAC is currently on display at the Solent Sky museum; it was loaned for some time to the Shuttleworth Collection but now resides in its hometown of Southampton.
==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref=''The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II''<ref name="Guttery"/><ref name=Shenstone>{{cite book|last=Shenstone|first=B.S.|title=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II|year=1963|publisher=Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue|location=Zurich|pages=120-121|edition=1st|author2=K.G. Wilkinson |language=English, French, German}}</ref><ref>''Flight International'', 23 December 1971 p1014</ref> |prime units?=imp |crew=1 |capacity= |length m=7.54 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=24.4 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=27.9 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio=21.3 |airfoil= NACA 65<sub>a</sub> 818 |empty weight kg=58.1 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=121.6 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |more general=
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name= |eng1 type=Cyclist pilot |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 hp=0.34 |eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 note= |power original= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh=33 |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |g limits=+1.5 -1 at {{convert|26.4|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}} |glide ratio=34 at {{convert|105|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}} |sink rate ms=0.19 |sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes --> |sink rate note= at {{convert|27|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}} |lift to drag=36 at {{convert|32|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|disp= flip}} |wing loading kg/m2=4.35 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |more performance= }}
==See also== {{aircontent <!-- other related articles that have not already linked: --> |see also=
<!-- designs which were developed into or from this aircraft: --> |related=
<!-- aircraft that are of similar role, era, and capability as this design: --> |similar aircraft= * HMPAC Puffin * HPA ''Toucan'' * Malliga 1 * MacCready ''Gossamer Albatross'' * MacCready ''Gossamer Condor'' * Goodhart ''Newbury Manflier'' * Southend MPG ''Mayfly'' <!-- relevant lists that this aircraft appears in: --> |lists= * List of human-powered aircraft <!-- See WP:Air/PC for more explanation of these fields. --> }}
==References== {{Commons category}}
===Notes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|last=Shenstone|first=B.S.|title=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II|year=1963|publisher=Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue|location=Zurich|pages=34–36|edition=1st|author2=K.G. Wilkinson |language=English, French, German}} * Guttery, T.E. ''The Shuttleworth Collection''. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5 *[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200744.html Man powered flight advances] {{refend}}
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1961 Category:Human-powered aircraft Category:1960s British experimental aircraft Category:Science and technology in Hampshire Category:University of Southampton Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft with fixed bicycle landing gear