A short clip of the Snowbird, a human-powered ornithopter built by University of Toronto students. On August 2, 2010 it sustained altitude and airspeed for 19.3 seconds, the first such flight.
Why Hacker News points people here: Used as the real example of human-powered flapping flight, in contrast to hoaxes and other human-powered aircraft discussions.
“real science/engineering awesomeness like this”HN comment, 2012
Real science and engineering awesomeness versus a hoax.
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Why not deride the film maker? The problem i have with him is the same problem that i have with all liars. Namely, that the world is such an interesting and fascinating place, that wasting time on hoaxes and stupid "ha ha! i tricked you!" sorts of media is largely pointless. This dude can claim that his effort was really an "experiment" about online media and how to tell a story, but frankly, I think that's bullshit. This guy isn't doing research about what it takes a viral video to study viral videos so that society might better understand how it is that information is passed between members of a network (and there are folks who study this sort of thing). This dude is just trying to make a project of his go viral. I really see very little distinction between this project and any other sort of fame-whoring, save for the amount of effort put in. So, please tell me if you can, why this hoax is an improvement, or even a useful fiction in the face of real science/engineering awesomeness like this: this video
Cites itkatovatzschynMar 2012
“Here is an example of what this man is claiming to have done, actually being done, by a team of engineers working for years”
Real human-powered flapping flight by engineers over years.
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The disregard for the physics of the situation is actually quite insulting. The "demonstration" is so far from realistic its not even worth a debunking. Here is an example of what this man is claiming to have done, actually being done, by a team of engineers working for years: this video
Cites it6renMar 2012
“As comparison, a human-powered articulated wing”
Comparison: a human-powered articulated wing.
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Conceptually plausible: the cyclic motion of articulated wings (flapping) seems understood in models e.g. link Jarno's idea of a powered exoskeleton wing to provide x20 power is right in principle, but needs light batteries: Prof Otten link As comparison, a human-powered articulated wing: this video A non-articulated wing link (18km) And the famous Gossamer Albatross flew from England to France link Also link To the downvoters: haters gonna hate, hackers gonna hack
Cites ityurisagalovMay 2012
“the same team that recently set the Guinness World Record by building a Human Powered Ornithopter”
Same team set a Guinness record with a human-powered ornithopter.
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This project is from the same team that recently set the Guinness World Record by building a Human Powered Ornithopter ( this video )
Cites itpygy_May 2012
“It sustained altitude and speed for a while (short of 20 seconds).”
Shows sustained altitude and speed for nearly 20 seconds.
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> Where is the difference to a glider? It sustained altitude and speed for a while (short of 20 seconds). See this: this video
Cites itantipuristJan 2026
“Human-powered ornithopter”
Example of a human-powered ornithopter.
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Human-carrying birds have been built. Piloted ornithopter: link Human-powered ornithopter: this video Also, Quetzalcoatlus northropi could've been powerful enough to carry a human.
