Structure Of The Human Powered Aircraft And The Industry Literature review

Structure Of The Human Powered Aircraft And The Industry - Literature review Example 1 – 5). Thus, a capacity for flying over the longest possible distance on limited power available from humans is a critical measure of performance for small human powered aircraft and jump type hang gliders, which must maintain a low weight while ensuring a degree of stability, safety, controllability and structural soundness. Because one of the largest weight components of an aircraft is its primary structure, the proper design of aircraft structure for human powered aircraft and hang gliders remains a challenge that decides about the success or failure of a design. The appropriate design flight conditions and the structural loads caused by a flight are variable and not immediately apparent, with flight regime and manoeuvring requirements placing additional demands on aircraft structures. Thus, for hundreds of years, if not thousands, the idea of man-powered flight has inspired many brave men to design strange contraptions with which to rival the birds (Grosser, 2004, Pp. xvi i – xix). The International Worthing Birdman Competition is an annual event held in the picturesque Worthing Town, located on England’s South Coast that encourages creativity in design and innovation for human powered / glider type flying machines (Worthing Birdman, 2011,† Worthing International Birdman Festival†). ... Because of the limitations imposed on designs of aircraft that are eligible to participate in the Worthing International Birdman Festival, no single entry to date has succeeded in gliding over the required 100 m distance. This literature review presents an examination of designs for human powered aircraft and hang gliders that will most likely present a winning entry for the Worthing International Birdman Festival. An emphasis exists for deciding about the structure of the aircraft, and the literature review should appeal to all those with an interest in human powered aircraft and gliders. Because Para gliders are gliders with no rigid form and only a simple fabric wing, with a pilot attached to the wing with high-strength cords, these designs cannot meet the specifications mentioned for the Worthing International Birdman Festival (Demand Media, 2011, â€Å"What Are Three Different Glider Designs?†). The length of the high-strength cords in a Para glider design connected to th e pilot will not permit pilots to travel far after a jump from the pier before they land in the sea. Thus, this literature review only considers hang gliders and other human powered type structures, excluding human powered helicopters (which do not have a wingspan) that are more likely to provide a pilot with the maximum height to travel before landing in the sea to present a win in the competition. It is important to note that human powered helicopters must lift the weight of the human and power engine as well as the weight of the entire aircraft structure to demand exceptionally large and lightweight rotary wings that present great complexities to render such