SUMPAC
British human-powered aircraft
title: "SUMPAC" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["aircraft-first-flown-in-1961", "human-powered-aircraft", "1960s-british-experimental-aircraft", "science-and-technology-in-hampshire", "university-of-southampton", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft", "shoulder-wing-aircraft", "aircraft-with-fixed-bicycle-landing-gear"] description: "British human-powered aircraft" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUMPAC" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary British human-powered aircraft ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | SUMPAC |
| image | SUMPAC.JPG |
| caption | SUMPAC on display at the Solent Sky museum. |
| aircraft_type | Human-powered aircraft |
| number_built | 1 |
| first_flight | 9 November 1961 |
| :: |
| 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15705954 |title=BBC News web-site |accessdate= 15 November 2012 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.
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.
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). 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. After a crash in 1963 which caused damage to the fragile structure it was decided to retire the aircraft although it had been repaired.
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
|ref=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II |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 65a 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= |eng1 hp=0.34 |eng1 shp= |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 26.4 km/h |glide ratio=34 at 105 km/h |sink rate ms=0.19 |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= at 27 km/h |lift to drag=36 at 32 km/h |wing loading kg/m2=4.35 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |more performance=
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5
- Man powered flight advances
References
- Guttery 1969, p. 70.
- [http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/flights.html Details of SUMPAC]
- Shenstone, B.S.. (1963). "The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II". Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue.
- ''Flight International'', 23 December 1971 p1014
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