Hartman Ikarus

Ikarus
Role	Human-powered aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Designer	Emiel Hartman
Built by	Don Campbell
First flight	1959
Number built	1

Last updated November 16, 2024

The Ikarus was a human-powered ornithopter, designed by the sculptor and designer Emiel Hartman in the late 1950s.^[1]

Development

The ornithopter was a high-wing monoplane, with the pilot seated in a recumbent position. Its construction followed conventional glider practice of the time. The fuselage had a bulkhead construction, covered in thin plywood. The wings featured a torsion-box spar and leading edge arrangement, and were also made from thin plywood. A series of 30 'feathers', covered in madapollam cotton were attached aft of the spar, and were able to individually bend and twist as the wings were flapped.^[2] The wings could be flapped through an arc of 30° dihedral to 10° anhedral, via a parallelogram structure which the pilot could operate using leg and arm power, with a rowing-like action. Bungee cords were integrated into the drive mechanism, to absorb and release energy as needed.^[1]^[3] It was expected that the wings would flap at 30 beats per minute.^[2] The craft featured a conventional empennage, with the pilot being able to control the elevator and rudder. There was no provision for lateral control. There was a tricycle undercarriage, with a steerable nosewheel.^[1]^[2]

Design of the ornithopter began in February 1958, with Hartman seeking advice from a number of aviation organisations and consultants. Construction commenced in August, with the work being undertaken by the glider constructor Don Campbell of Hungerford, Berkshire.^[2] The craft was completed by August 1959, with initial taxi trials being undertaken in September. In mid-October, the Ikarus was delivered to Cranfield Airport for further tests.^[2]

Testing

Flight testing commenced on Sunday, 1 November 1959, with Hartman acting as pilot. Non-flapping flights were made, towed behind an automobile. During a subsequent towed flight, conducted on Wednesday, 4 November, at an altitude of 30 ft (9.1 m), Hartman experienced control difficulties due to a 7 mph (11 km/h) crosswind, landed heavily and incurred a ground loop, which damaged the port wing.^[4]^[5]

In 1964, it was reported that the Ikarus was still in storage at the College of Aeronautics, at Cranfield, with no further flight attempts having been made.^[4] The project (including design, drawing, and construction) was said to have involved 4,624 hours worth of work, and to have cost £2,450.^[2]

Patents

GBpatent 885273,Emile Hartman,"Improvements relating to ornithopters",issued 1961-12-20
GBpatent 851352,Emile Hartman,"Improvements relating to ornithopters",issued 1960-10-12

Specifications

Data from Sailplane and Gliding^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Wingspan: 36 ft (11 m)
Wing area: 144 sq ft (13.4 m²)
Aspect ratio: 9
Airfoil: Göttingen 535
Empty weight: 282 lb (128 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pilot leg and arm power

Performance

Cruise speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)

External links

British Pathé - Bird Man May Fly Soon (video)
British Pathé - Bird Man Tries Again (video)
British Movietone - Birdman (no sound) (video)

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References

1 2 3 Reay, D.A. (1977). The history of man-powered flight. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd. pp. 181–182. ISBN 0080217389.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Campbell, Don (December 1959). "The Hartman Ornithopter". Sailplane and Gliding. Vol. X, no. 6. London, UK: The British Gliding Association. pp. 333–334, back cover.
↑ Karl Herzog (1964). Laidlaw-Dickson, D.J.; Moulton, R.G. (eds.). "Flapping wing flight in nature and science". Aeronautical Annual 1964-65. Translated by Dick Hirdes. Watford, Herts, UK: Model Aeronautical Press: 44–57.
1 2 R.G. Moulton (1964). Laidlaw-Dickson, D.J.; Moulton, R.G. (eds.). "Muscle Power". Aeronautical Annual 1964-65. Watford, Herts, UK: Model Aeronautical Press: 58–63, 137.
↑ Smith, Maurice A., ed. (13 November 1959). "Sport and Business". Flight. Vol. 76, no. 2644. London, UK: Iliffe & Sons Ltd. p. 557.

Bibliography

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[REAY-1] 1 2 3 Reay, D.A. (1977). The history of man-powered flight. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd. pp. 181–182. ISBN 0080217389.

[SAIL-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Campbell, Don (December 1959). "The Hartman Ornithopter". Sailplane and Gliding. Vol. X, no. 6. London, UK: The British Gliding Association. pp. 333–334, back cover.

[AERO64A-3] Karl Herzog (1964). Laidlaw-Dickson, D.J.; Moulton, R.G. (eds.). "Flapping wing flight in nature and science". Aeronautical Annual 1964-65. Translated by Dick Hirdes. Watford, Herts, UK: Model Aeronautical Press: 44–57.

[AERO64B-4] 1 2 R.G. Moulton (1964). Laidlaw-Dickson, D.J.; Moulton, R.G. (eds.). "Muscle Power". Aeronautical Annual 1964-65. Watford, Herts, UK: Model Aeronautical Press: 58–63, 137.

[FLIGHT-5] Smith, Maurice A., ed. (13 November 1959). "Sport and Business". Flight. Vol. 76, no. 2644. London, UK: Iliffe & Sons Ltd. p. 557.

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