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{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
{{short description|Experimental aircraft}}
⚫
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Daedalus
| image = Daedalus-human-powered-aircraft.jpg
|name = Daedalus
|image = Daedalus-human-powered-aircraft.jpg
| caption = MIT Daedalus<ref name="mcintyre" /> human powered aircraft in flight during testing at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center<ref name="dryden"/>
|caption = MIT Daedalus<ref name="mcintyre" /> human powered aircraft in flight during testing at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center<ref name="dryden"/>
| alt = <!-- Alt text for main image -->
|alt = <!-- Alt text for main image -->
⚫
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
|type = Human powered aircraft
|type = Human powered aircraft
|national origin = [[United States]]
|national_origin = [[United States]]
|manufacturer = [[MIT]] - (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
|manufacturer = [[MIT]] - (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
|designer = <!--Only appropriate for single designers, not project leaders-->
|designer = <!--Only appropriate for single designers, not project leaders-->
|first flight = 23 April 1988
|first_flight = 23 April 1988
|introduced = <!--Date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service-->
|introduction = <!--Date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service-->
|retired = <!--Date the aircraft left service. If vague or more than a few dates, skip this -->
|retired = <!--Date the aircraft left service. If vague or more than a few dates, skip this -->
|status = <!--In most cases, redundant; use sparingly-->
|status = <!--In most cases, redundant; use sparingly-->
|primary user = <!-- List only one user; for military aircraft, this is a nation or a service arm. Please DON'T add those tiny flags, as they limit horizontal space. -->
|primary_user = <!-- List only one user; for military aircraft, this is a nation or a service arm. Please DON'T add those tiny flags, as they limit horizontal space. -->
|more users = <!-- Limited to THREE (3) 'more users' here (4 total users). Separate users with <br />. -->
|more_users = <!-- Limited to THREE (3) 'more users' here (4 total users). Separate users with <br />. -->
|produced = <!--Years in production (eg. 1970–1999) if still in active use but no longer built -->
|produced = <!--Years in production (eg. 1970–1999) if still in active use but no longer built -->
|number built = <!-- Total number of flight-worthy aircraft completed. -->
|number_built = <!-- Total number of flight-worthy aircraft completed. -->
|program cost = <!--Total program cost-->
|program cost = <!--Total program cost-->
|unit cost = <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
|unit cost = <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
|developed from = <!--The aircraft which formed the basis for this aircraft-->
|developed_from = <!--The aircraft which formed the basis for this aircraft-->
|variants with their own articles = <!--Variants OF this aircraft-->
|variants = <!--Variants OF this aircraft-->
|developed into = <!--For derivative aircraft based on this aircraft-->
|developed_into = <!--For derivative aircraft based on this aircraft-->
}}
}}
|}


The [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] Aeronautics and Astronautics Department's '''Daedalus''' was a [[human-powered aircraft]]<ref name="mcintyre">John McIntyre, [http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/daedalus.pdf Man's Greatest Flight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202353/http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/daedalus.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, ''AeroModeller'', August 1988 (in files of Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group) (accessed Nov. 13 2012)</ref> that, on 23 April 1988, flew a distance of 72.4&nbsp;mi (115.11&nbsp;km) in 3 hours, 54 minutes, from [[Heraklion]] on the island of [[Crete]] to the island of [[Santorini]]. The flight holds official [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]] world records for total distance, straight-line distance, and duration for human-powered aircraft.
The [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] Aeronautics and Astronautics Department's '''Daedalus''' is a class of three [[human-powered aircraft]]<ref name="mcintyre">John McIntyre, [http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/daedalus.pdf Man's Greatest Flight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202353/http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/daedalus.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, ''AeroModeller'', August 1988 (in files of Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group) (accessed Nov. 13 2012)</ref> that included '''''Daedalus 88'''''{{snd}}which, on 23 April 1988, flew a distance of {{convert|115.11|km}} in 3 hours, 54 minutes, from [[Heraklion]] on the island of [[Crete]] to the island of [[Santorini]]. The flight holds official [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]] world records for total distance, straight-line distance, and duration for human-powered aircraft.


The craft was named after the mythological inventor of aviation, [[Daedalus]], and was inspired by the Greek myth of Daedalus' escape from Crete using manmade wings.
The class was named after the mythological inventor of aviation, [[Daedalus]], and was inspired by the Greek myth of Daedalus' escape from Crete using manmade wings.


There were actually three aircraft constructed:
The three aircraft in the class are:
* '''''Light Eagle''''' (originally '''''Michelob Light Eagle'''''): a 42&nbsp;kg (92&nbsp;lb) prototype.
* '''''Light Eagle''''' (originally '''''Michelob Light Eagle'''''): a {{convert|42|kg}} prototype.
* '''''Daedalus 87''''': Crashed during testing at [[Rogers Dry Lake]] (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) on 17 February 1988, and was rebuilt as a backup.
* '''''Daedalus 87''''': Crashed during testing at [[Rogers Dry Lake]] (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) on 17 February 1988, and was rebuilt as a backup.
* '''''Daedalus 88''''': Flew from Crete to just off the beach on Santorini.
* ''Daedalus 88'': Flew from Crete to just off the beach on Santorini.


Both ''Daedalus 87'' and ''Daedalus 88''' weighed 31&nbsp;kg (69&nbsp;lb).
Both ''Daedalus 87'' and ''Daedalus 88'' weighed {{convert|31|kg}}.


All three aircraft were constructed at the [[MIT Lincoln Laboratory]] Flight Facility at [[Hanscom Field]] outside Boston, Massachusetts, by a team of undergraduate students, faculty, and recent graduates of MIT.
All three aircraft were constructed at the [[MIT Lincoln Laboratory]] Flight Facility at [[Hanscom Field]] outside Boston, Massachusetts, by a team of undergraduate students, faculty, and recent graduates of MIT.


==History==
==History==
The MIT Daedalus project was the follow-on to several earlier human-powered aircraft flown at MIT, and was designed by veterans of the Chrysalis HPA<ref>[http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/chrysalis.pdf Chrysalis Human-Powered Airplane: It Flew the First Time Out] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202059/http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/chrysalis.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group (accessed Nov. 13 2012)</ref> and the MIT Monarch and [[MIT Monarch B#Chrysalis.2C Monarch.2C and Daedelus Human-powered Aircraft|Monarch-B]] missions.<ref>[http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329033746/http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html |date=2013-03-29 }} Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group (accessed Nov. 13 2012)</ref>
The MIT Daedalus project was the follow-on to several earlier human-powered aircraft flown at MIT, and was designed by veterans of the [[MIT Chrysalis|''Chrysalis'']], [[MIT Monarch A|''Monarch A'']] and [[MIT Monarch B|''Monarch B'']] HPA projects.<ref>[http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/chrysalis.pdf Chrysalis Human-Powered Airplane: It Flew the First Time Out] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202059/http://library.propdesigner.co.uk/chrysalis.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group (accessed Nov. 13 2012)</ref><ref>[http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329033746/http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html |date=2013-03-29 }} Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group (accessed Nov. 13 2012)</ref>
The team members composing the Daedalus project went on to make notable contributions to experimental aeronautics such as founding the [[Aurora Flight Sciences]] company.<ref>Dorsey, Gary (1990). ''The Fullness of Wings: The Making Of A New Daedalus'' {{ISBN|0-670-82444-5}}</ref>


==Aircraft==
==Aircraft==
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''Light Eagle'' (known to the flight crew as ''MLE'', or ''Emily'') set a closed-course distance record with Glen Tremml as the pilot, as well as straight-line, closed-course, and duration women's records with [[Lois McCallin]] as pilot. These record flights took place at [[Edwards AFB]] (NASA [[Dryden Flight Research Center]]) in January, 1987.
''Light Eagle'' (known to the flight crew as ''MLE'', or ''Emily'') set a closed-course distance record with Glen Tremml as the pilot, as well as straight-line, closed-course, and duration women's records with [[Lois McCallin]] as pilot. These record flights took place at [[Edwards AFB]] (NASA [[Dryden Flight Research Center]]) in January, 1987.


''Light Eagle'' had been in storage in [[Manassas, Virginia|Manassas]], [[Virginia|VA]], but in 2009 was restored and adapted for use as an unmanned solar-powered aircraft testbed by [[Aurora Flight Sciences]].
''Light Eagle'' had been in storage in [[Manassas, Virginia|Manassas]], [[Virginia|VA]], but in 2009 was restored and adapted for use as an unmanned solar-powered aircraft testbed by [[Aurora Flight Sciences]].{{confusing|date=May 2021}}


===Daedalus 87===
===Daedalus 87===
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==Airfoils==
==Airfoils==
[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Drela|Mark Drela]] had recently written the program [[XFOIL]], which enables the design of [[Airfoil|aerofoils]] and accurately predicts performance at a wide range of [[Reynolds number|Reynolds numbers]].
[[Mark Drela]] had recently written the program [[XFOIL]], which enables the design of [[Airfoil|aerofoils]] and accurately predicts performance at a wide range of [[Reynolds number|Reynolds numbers]].
The wing sections never existed on paper, either as lists of numbers or as drawings. The information came out of the design program onto disc, and this guided the cutter.
The wing sections never existed on paper, either as lists of numbers or as drawings. The information came out of the design program onto disc, and this guided the cutter.
The spar of the MLE (Michelob Light Eagle) was three tubes aligned vertically.
The spar of the MLE (Michelob Light Eagle) was three tubes aligned vertically.
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*{{cite magazine|title=Triumph of ''Daedalus''|first=John S.|last=Langford|magazine=[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]|pp=190–199|volume=174|issue=2|date=August 1988|issn=0027-9358|oclc=643483454}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Triumph of ''Daedalus''|first=John S.|last=Langford|magazine=[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]|pp=190–199|volume=174|issue=2|date=August 1988|issn=0027-9358|oclc=643483454}}


[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1988]]
[[Category:Human-powered aircraft]]
[[Category:Human-powered aircraft]]
[[Category:1980s United States experimental aircraft]]
[[Category:1980s United States experimental aircraft]]
[[Category:Aurora Flight Sciences aircraft]]
[[Category:Aurora Flight Sciences aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:MIT aircraft]]

Latest revision as of 18:56, 9 September 2024

Daedalus
MIT Daedalus[1] human powered aircraft in flight during testing at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center[2]
General information
TypeHuman powered aircraft
National originUnited States
ManufacturerMIT - (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
History
First flight23 April 1988

The MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics Department's Daedalus is a class of three human-powered aircraft[1] that included Daedalus 88 – which, on 23 April 1988, flew a distance of 115.11 kilometres (71.53 mi) in 3 hours, 54 minutes, from Heraklion on the island of Crete to the island of Santorini. The flight holds official FAI world records for total distance, straight-line distance, and duration for human-powered aircraft.

The class was named after the mythological inventor of aviation, Daedalus, and was inspired by the Greek myth of Daedalus' escape from Crete using manmade wings.

The three aircraft in the class are:

  • Light Eagle (originally Michelob Light Eagle): a 42 kilograms (93 lb) prototype.
  • Daedalus 87: Crashed during testing at Rogers Dry Lake (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) on 17 February 1988, and was rebuilt as a backup.
  • Daedalus 88: Flew from Crete to just off the beach on Santorini.

Both Daedalus 87 and Daedalus 88 weighed 31 kilograms (68 lb).

All three aircraft were constructed at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Flight Facility at Hanscom Field outside Boston, Massachusetts, by a team of undergraduate students, faculty, and recent graduates of MIT.

History

[edit]

The MIT Daedalus project was the follow-on to several earlier human-powered aircraft flown at MIT, and was designed by veterans of the Chrysalis, Monarch A and Monarch B HPA projects.[3][4] The team members composing the Daedalus project went on to make notable contributions to experimental aeronautics such as founding the Aurora Flight Sciences company.[5]

Aircraft

[edit]

Light Eagle

[edit]

Light Eagle (known to the flight crew as MLE, or Emily) set a closed-course distance record with Glen Tremml as the pilot, as well as straight-line, closed-course, and duration women's records with Lois McCallin as pilot. These record flights took place at Edwards AFB (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) in January, 1987.

Light Eagle had been in storage in Manassas, VA, but in 2009 was restored and adapted for use as an unmanned solar-powered aircraft testbed by Aurora Flight Sciences.

Daedalus 87

[edit]
Daedalus 87 aircraft on display in the Dulles International Airport Terminal B transportation concourse

Daedalus 87 was the first of the two Daedalus airplanes constructed, and was flight tested extensively at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in California.[2] During flight testing, Daedalus 87 was damaged in a crash caused by spiral divergence, with the rudder not able to supply enough control authority to recover from a disturbance-initiated right turn. The aircraft suffered damage to the right wing, fuselage, and propeller. Daedalus 87 was repaired and returned to service to act as a backup airplane to Daedalus 88.

Daedalus 87 was on display in the lobby at the Museum of Science, Boston until 2009, and is now on display above the tram stop for Terminal B at Dulles Airport outside Washington, DC.

Daedalus 88

[edit]

The final aircraft in the MIT Daedalus series, Daedalus 88, was used in the flight from Crete. Pieces of Daedalus 88 are now in storage at the Smithsonian's restoration facility.

Both Daedalus aircraft were constructed with a framework of carbon fiber tubes. Airfoil shape for the wing and tail elements was maintained with a thin polystyrene foam leading edge, polystyrene ribs, and a Kevlar trailing edge. Wing skin was Mylar plastic of approximately 0.3 mil (8 μm) thickness. The bottom portion of the fuselage and majority of the pilot seat were made of Kevlar as well. Horizontal and vertical stabilizers were "all-moving" control surfaces.

Airfoils

[edit]

Mark Drela had recently written the program XFOIL, which enables the design of aerofoils and accurately predicts performance at a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The wing sections never existed on paper, either as lists of numbers or as drawings. The information came out of the design program onto disc, and this guided the cutter. The spar of the MLE (Michelob Light Eagle) was three tubes aligned vertically.

This scheme was abandoned for the final Daedalus design where the more usual single tube was used. Construction of Light Eagle took 15,000 hours work by 18 members of MIT. The airfoils which were used are: DAE11, DAE21, DAE31, and DAE51.[6]

Record-setting flight

[edit]

The record-setting flight of Daedalus 88 had as pilot Olympic cyclist Kanellos Kanellopoulos of Greece.[7] The flight began at the main airport of Iraklion, on Crete, with a horizontal launch under the pilot's own power, as governed by FAI rules. During the flight, the Daedalus flew primarily between 15 and 30 feet in altitude, and was accompanied by several escort vessels. The speed of the flight was helped by a tailwind, but this also made a head-on landing approach to the narrow beach hazardous, especially with crowds of spectators on the sand. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft to land more into the wind and parallel with the length of the beach. As the right wing extended over the black sand beach, the heat rising from the beach lifted that wing, turning the aircraft back towards the sea. This effect prevented the pilot from getting the whole aircraft onto the beach.

The flight ended in the water (7 meters from Perissa Beach on Santorini, according to the official record), when increasing gusty winds caused a torsional failure of the tail boom. Lacking control, the airplane then pitched nose-up, and another gust caused a failure of the main wing spar. The pilot swam to shore.

The pilot used a hydration drink during flight. This feat was equivalent to two back-to-back marathons.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b John McIntyre, Man's Greatest Flight Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, AeroModeller, August 1988 (in files of Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group) (accessed Nov. 13 2012)
  2. ^ a b NASA Dryden Daedalus Human Powered Aircraft Archived 2012-11-06 at the Wayback Machine page (accessed Nov. 13 2012)
  3. ^ Chrysalis Human-Powered Airplane: It Flew the First Time Out Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group (accessed Nov. 13 2012)
  4. ^ http://www.humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk/html/daedalus.html Archived 2013-03-29 at the Wayback Machine Royal Aeronautical Society Human Powered Aircraft Group (accessed Nov. 13 2012)
  5. ^ Dorsey, Gary (1990). The Fullness of Wings: The Making Of A New Daedalus ISBN 0-670-82444-5
  6. ^ Novascientia SA Blog Daedalus - Man's Greatest Flight
  7. ^ Olympics at Sports-Reference.com > Athletes > Kanellos Kanellopoulos

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to MIT Daedalus.
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