Zinno Olympian ZB-1

Zinno Olympian ZB-1
	The Olympian during an unsuccessful takeoff attempt on April 15, 1976
Role	Human-powered aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Joseph A. Zinno & Associates
Designer	Joseph A. Zinno
First flight	April 21, 1976
Number built	1

Last updated November 16, 2024

The Olympian ZB-1 was the first human-powered aircraft to have flown in the United States.^[1]^[2]^[3] It was designed, built, and flown by Joseph A. Zinno, of North Providence, Rhode Island. Zinno had previously been a USAF Lieutenant Colonel, and undertook the challenge of making a human-powered aircraft as a post-retirement project.^[3]^[4]

Design and development

Design work began in January 1972 with construction, said to have involved 7,000 hours, commencing in March 1973.^[1]^[5]

The aircraft was a mid-wing monoplane, with a pod and boom configuration. The fuselage's primary structure was made from light alloy tubing, whereas the wing's had a box-spar made from wood and plywood. The secondary structure was made using aluminum, wood, ply, foam and plastics. The entire aircraft was covered in a transparent plastic film.^[1] The wing had a complex planform, consisting of four separate sections, of varying tapers and chords.^[5] A high camber Wortmann airfoil, the FX72-150, was used inboard near the wing-root while, further outboard, the more efficient Wortmann FX63-137 section was selected. Zinno stated this was "to compensate for the hellatious diving moment".^[4]

The pilot sat in a recumbent position, and operated a reciprocating pedal drive system, to power a two bladed variable-pitch pusher propeller, located at the rear of the streamlined nacelle.^[1] A boom at the base of the nacelle extended to the empennage at the rear. Directional control was by a fin-mounted counter-balanced rudder. Pitch control was by an all-flying tail-plane fitted to the trailing edge of the tailfin. Lateral control was attained by wingtip ailerons.^[1] The undercarriage consisted of two bicycle wheels arranged in tandem, while two small wheels, on outriggers, were positioned underneath the wing.^[1]

Flight tests

On January 16, 1976, the FAA gave the aircraft an Airworthiness Certificate with the registration NIZB.^[5] Flight tests were conducted at the Quonset Point Air National Guard Station in Rhode Island, with Zinno acting as pilot. A series of taxiing trials began on April 15.^[2] On the morning of April 21, during its fourth run of the day, the Olympian flew for 5 seconds.^[4] The distance covered was variously reported to have been between 33 and 100 feet (10 and 30 meters).^[5] During landing, the aircraft suffered a ground loop, which damaged the undercarriage and other components.^[2]

Further tests were conducted in September 1976, with the aircraft making towed flights. On its final flight, the right wing suffered a structural failure of the wing-spar, at its root, damaging the aircraft beyond repair.^[6]

Specifications

Data fromJane's all the world's aircraft 1976–77^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Wingspan: 78 ft 6 in (23.93 m)
Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
Wing area: 312 sq ft (29.0 m²)
Airfoil: Wortmann FX72-150 (inboard), Wortmann FX63-137 (outboard)
Empty weight: 148 lb (67 kg)
Gross weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
Propellers: 2-bladed, 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) diameter

Performance

Maximum speed: 22 mph (35 km/h, 19 kn)
Cruise speed: 19 mph (31 km/h, 17 kn)
Stall speed: 15 mph (24 km/h, 13 kn)
Never exceed speed: 39 mph (63 km/h, 34 kn)
Wing loading: 0.93 lb/sq ft (4.5 kg/m²)

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1976). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1976-77. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. pp. 545–546. ISBN 0354005383 . Retrieved April 7, 2023.
1 2 3 Gustafson, David (1977). "Joe Zinno's Man Powered Aircraft Flies". In Miller, Ed Mack (ed.). Aviation yearbook 1977. Denver, CO: Jepperson Sanderson, Inc. pp. 416–419. ISBN 0884870197 . Retrieved April 7, 2023.
1 2 anon (May 10, 1976). "Zinno's Flight". The New Yorker. Vol. LII, no. 12. New York, NY: The New Yorker Magazine, Inc. pp. 29–31. ISSN 0028-792X . Retrieved April 7, 2023.
1 2 3 Dwiggins, Don (1977). Man-powered aircraft. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books. pp. 184–186. ISBN 0830622543.
1 2 3 4 Reay, D.A. (1977). The history of man-powered flight. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd. pp. 296–298. ISBN 0080217389.
↑ Moulton, Ron (February 1977). "Progress with Man Power". AeroModeller. Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK: Model & Allied Publications Ltd. pp. 102–104.

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[JAWA76-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1976). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1976-77. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. pp. 545–546. ISBN 0354005383 . Retrieved April 7, 2023.

[SPORT-2] 1 2 3 Gustafson, David (1977). "Joe Zinno's Man Powered Aircraft Flies". In Miller, Ed Mack (ed.). Aviation yearbook 1977. Denver, CO: Jepperson Sanderson, Inc. pp. 416–419. ISBN 0884870197 . Retrieved April 7, 2023.

[TNY-3] 1 2 anon (May 10, 1976). "Zinno's Flight". The New Yorker. Vol. LII, no. 12. New York, NY: The New Yorker Magazine, Inc. pp. 29–31. ISSN 0028-792X . Retrieved April 7, 2023.

[DWIGGINS-4] 1 2 3 Dwiggins, Don (1977). Man-powered aircraft. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books. pp. 184–186. ISBN 0830622543.

[REAY-5] 1 2 3 4 Reay, D.A. (1977). The history of man-powered flight. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd. pp. 296–298. ISBN 0080217389.

[AERO77-6] Moulton, Ron (February 1977). "Progress with Man Power". AeroModeller. Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK: Model & Allied Publications Ltd. pp. 102–104.

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