World's First Human-Powered Ornithopter

[chrischanx]

when the wings are flapping very gracefully like a giant bird, it really looks very amazing.. wish i could see it personally

[McFunson]

1:42 I was like, "It's just a big kite." ...and then the wings started to flap... So freaky!

[dmiller]

This is fantastic!

It's flapping action is so much more efficient and beautiful than all the mouth-flapping in these you-tube comments. It really demonstrates what can be accomplished when our efforts are put toward something useful.

[Hakuromatsu]

Hats off the pilot as much as the designers. What a feat of endurance.

[BlakeOBrien]

"Your doing great dan, just keep on going." "But how the hell do I land this death trap?"

[ThruThe]

Some say it's still flying to this day

[MrPilotStunts]

We achieved everything thought unachievable before, all thanks to a great range of lightweight, strong materials and excellent knowledge of aerodynamics.
Human powered forward flight, human powered hovering and human powered flight by flapping the wings. All in zero wind relative to the ground. And god what can our gliders do, getting picked up by the winds, raising above the clouds, all in controlled flight.
Looking back, the progress we've made is marvelous. Beautiful pieces of engineering.

[spockis]

What a beautiful outcome of a pure research project in aviation. Congrats!

[sapientia_et_virtus]

Remarkable! Truly impressive and a beautiful sight to see.

[akitatrips]

This is truly amazing. Humanity has always wanted to fly as close as a bird. Maybe one day that will be possible.

[eleventhprimarch]

Retrofit this thing to hold four people and strap an analogue WW2 era jet engine onto it and you can be riding the storms of Arrakis in no time!

[jediknightnamek]

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING"!!! :O

[Godscountry]

maybe in the future, as materials become better, a 2 seater, one to provide propulsion, one to provide lift, great job

[treborp]

Impressive for what it was, but the Wikipedia article says "Analysis of the flight afterward indicated that 15-20 power strokes (flaps) is the limit of endurance for the pilot." Therefore, I find it hard to categorize this as a design capable of "sustained flight."

[Snowwie]

They should try this late in the afternoon with warm sunny weather, not at freezing dawn.

[WeSSENT]

impressive canadian inventions make me smile

[RunningLemonStudios]

@Thergrim Haha what makes it special is that it gets propulsion from the "wiggly wing".

It would not have otherwise been able to sustain flight, which is what makes it something other than a glider.

[robertgriggs]

First human to fly like a bird and it was a team of college students that did it! Rest easy fellow baby boomers, the next generation will make amazing strides in technology and human accomplishment! Great work young people!

[hecatr]

Congratulations! The Wright brothers first successful flight was--what?--120 feet in 12 seconds. Two years later they flew 24 miles in 40 minutes. You're ahead of the curve so far!

[kittybirg]

In Canukistan, plane fly you!

A great big kudos to all of the folks involved in the designing and building ofthis marvelous aircraft. You should be proud.