Sikorsky Prize
Encyclopedia
The Sikorsky Prize is a $250,000 reward established in 1980 by the American Helicopter Society
(AHS) to the first controlled flight of a human powered helicopter
. It was named in honor of Igor Sikorsky
. The prize has not yet been won . The competition is international and is open to individuals or teams from any part of the world.
In summary, the requirements to win the Sikorsky prize include a flight duration of 60 seconds and reaching an altitude of 3 meters (9.8 ft) while remaining in a 10 meter (32.8 ft) square.
Many have attempted to fly human powered helicopters both before and after the creation of the Sikorsky Prize. None have met all of the prize's requirements. Very few human powered aircraft in the history of aviation have succeeded in leaving the ground under official witnessing. The first helicopter to do so was the Da Vinci III in 1989, designed and built by students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California, USA. It flew for 7.1 seconds and reached a height of 8 inches (20 cm). The second was the Yuri I in 1994, designed and built by students at Nihon University
in Japan. It flew for 19.46 seconds and reached an altitude of 20 cm. Students at the University of Maryland
designed and built the Gamera
in an attempt to win the prize. After a failed test flight on May 11, 2011, the Gamera successfully flew on May 12, 2011 for approximately four seconds, but not long or high enough to win the prize.
American Helicopter Society
The American Helicopter Society, International is a professional society in the area of vertical flight. It was formed in 1944. It publishes an official magazine and a technical journal ...
(AHS) to the first controlled flight of a human powered helicopter
Human powered helicopter
A human-powered helicopter is a helicopter designed to carry at least one person but limited to using only what power is provided by the person on board, usually by pedalling. A high power-to-weight ratio is needed as in all helicopters. Such aircraft must be light and must have efficient rotary...
. It was named in honor of Igor Sikorsky
Igor Sikorsky
Igor Sikorsky , born Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky was a Russian American pioneer of aviation in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft...
. The prize has not yet been won . The competition is international and is open to individuals or teams from any part of the world.
In summary, the requirements to win the Sikorsky prize include a flight duration of 60 seconds and reaching an altitude of 3 meters (9.8 ft) while remaining in a 10 meter (32.8 ft) square.
Many have attempted to fly human powered helicopters both before and after the creation of the Sikorsky Prize. None have met all of the prize's requirements. Very few human powered aircraft in the history of aviation have succeeded in leaving the ground under official witnessing. The first helicopter to do so was the Da Vinci III in 1989, designed and built by students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California, USA. It flew for 7.1 seconds and reached a height of 8 inches (20 cm). The second was the Yuri I in 1994, designed and built by students at Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
in Japan. It flew for 19.46 seconds and reached an altitude of 20 cm. Students at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
designed and built the Gamera
University of Maryland Gamera Human Powered Helicopter
|-See also:right|thumb|The 1907 Breguet Gyroplane with a quad rotor design-External links:***...
in an attempt to win the prize. After a failed test flight on May 11, 2011, the Gamera successfully flew on May 12, 2011 for approximately four seconds, but not long or high enough to win the prize.
External links
- Sikorsky Prize - American Helicopter Society
- humanpoweredhelicopters.org - lists attempts to win the Sikorsky Prize