The LP Dedal human-powered aircraft was the project of Leon Polniak, a Franco-Polish engineer based in Kraków, Poland.[1] Dedal is Polish for Daedalus.
| Polniak LP Dedal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Three-view of the Polniak LP Dedal | |
| Role | Human-powered aircraft |
| National origin | Polish |
| Manufacturer | Leon Polniak |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed into | LP Dedal-2 |
Development
editInspired by the Kremer prize, Polniak began the design of the aircraft in 1966, and construction commenced in 1967.[2] Construction reportedly involved 6,000 hours.[3]
The Dedal was a wire-braced parasol-wing monoplane of conventional configuration, and fitted with a tractor propeller. The fuselage was of the pod-and-boom type.[2] The wing planform was located immediately above the fuselage, attached by a single pylon. The wing consisted of six panels, all of constant chord, with the two outermost panels set at a substantial dihedral angle.[2] The pilot sat in a conventional cycling position, and powered the tractor propeller via a belt drive.[2][4] The aircraft was primarily constructed from pine and balsa.[3]
The aircraft was due to fly in 1972 but, according to Jane's all the world's aircraft 1973-74, when it was 50% complete, it was damaged while being transported, with Polniak then deciding to build an improved version, the LP Dedal-2.[5]
Specifications (LP Dedal)
editData from Jane's all the world's aircraft 1972-73,[2] and Mięśnioloty[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 7.20 m (23 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 25.00 m (82 ft 0 in)
- Height: 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 43.80 m2 (471.5 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 14.3
- Airfoil: Eiffel 400
- Empty weight: 20 kg (44 lb)
- Gross weight: 125 kg (276 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 105 kg (231 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Cyclist , 0.22–0.30 kW (0.30–0.40 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed, 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) diameter fixed pitch
Performance
- Cruise speed: 25 km/h (16 mph, 13 kn)
- Wing loading: 2.40 kg/m2 (0.49 lb/sq ft)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Polniak Leon". Samoloty w Lotnictwie Polskim (in Polish). samolotypolskie.pl. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1972). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1972-73. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 161. ISBN 0354001094. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Wojciechowski, Janusz (1979). Mięśnioloty (in Polish). Warsaw, Poland: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji. pp. 107–108. ISBN 8320600294. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "LP "Dedal", 1975". Samoloty w Lotnictwie Polskim (in Polish). samolotypolskie.pl. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1973). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1973-74. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 12. ISBN 0354001175. Retrieved 15 April 2023.