Zinno Olympian ZB-1

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Zinno Olympian ZB-1
Role Human-powered aircraft
National originUnited States
ManufacturerJoseph A. Zinno & Associates
DesignerJoseph A. Zinno
First flightApril 21, 1976
Number built1

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]

Contents

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

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

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