To Phoenix
Fred To · United Kingdom · first flew 1981 · glider
The Phoenix was a human-powered aircraft designed and built in the 1980s by the British architect Frederick To, notable as an inflatable tailless design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.49 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Inflatable flying wing of polyester film on conjoined tubes
- Downturned winglets at each wingtip for directional control
- Pilot seated upright in a cycling position driving a tractor propeller by chain
A rectangular-planform flying wing with a reflex aerofoil, aspect ratio of 6, a carbon-fibre tube fuselage, and elevons and rudders operated from the winglets by radio-control servos. Deflated, the wing folded to fit on a car roof rack.
Specifications
- The To Phoenix has a length of 5.49 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.09 m (102 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
To wanted to solve the storage and crash-damage problems of earlier human-powered aircraft. Towed flights took place in August 1981, and the first human-powered flight was on 28 March 1982 at the London Docklands, with Ian Parker as pilot.
Variants
One was built, and there were no other versions.
Where you'll see it
The flights lasted about 20 seconds each. It took a long time to reach flying speed, which To attributed to the air mass inside the inflatable wing.
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