Human-Powered Ornithopter

[Aggie]

Very cool - youtube tags are cranky, so check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E77j1imdhQ

They launched it with a car, but it's crazy to see it in action, flapping its wings.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

That made me smile. It would seem that they decided not to keep flying (possibly running out of space?) and only did 19 thrusts. I imagine the machine isn't very practical (it must be very delicate) but it's possibly one of the coolest things I've seen in a while.

[Aggie]

Yes, not to be produced for commercial flight any time soon, I'm sure.

It made me want to call up my buddy and try to get our idea for a pedal-powered hydrofoil back on the drawing board.

[Swatopluk]

A few years ago a pedal powered plane replicated the Icarus flight from Crete. That was also only possible with an ultra-light construction not even containing landing gear (it had to crash-land in the sea near the target island). It was not a glider, the pilot had to pedal the whole time.

[Darlica]

Cool.

It makes me smile too, I'ts not practical, but science doesn't always have to be and the machine is beautiful!
Thank you for sharing!    

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

That was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.

It's amazing to be a member of the human species....

... I'm all but speechless..