SUMPAC
Southampton University · United Kingdom · first flew 1961 · glider
The Southampton University Man Powered Aircraft (SUMPAC) became the first human-powered aeroplane to make an officially authenticated take-off and flight, on 9 November 1961. It never completed the figure-of-eight course needed to claim the Kremer prize.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very long wing of 24.4 m span on a small fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very long wing of 24.4 m span on a small fuselage
- Pylon-mounted pusher propeller driven by pedals and chains
- Transparent plastic skin on the fuselage
Look for a balsa, plywood and aluminium aircraft with a huge wing and a single pusher propeller on a pylon.
Specifications
- The SUMPAC has a length of 7.54 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24.4 m (80 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Post-graduate students at Southampton University designed and built it between 1960 and 1961, funded by the Royal Aeronautical Society. Derek Piggott flew the first flight at Lasham, which covered 70 yards.
Variants
Only one was built. It is of conventional configuration apart from a pylon-mounted pusher propeller.
Where you'll see it
It made 40 flights, the longest 650 yards. After a crash in 1963 it was retired, and it is now displayed at the Solent Sky museum in Southampton.
Related aircraft
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