The Micron was the second of two human-powered aircraft designed and built by Peter Wright, an engineer from Melton Mowbray, England.[1]
| Wright Micron | |
|---|---|
| |
| Peter Wright holding a scale model of the Micron | |
| Role | Human-powered aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Peter Wright |
| Number built | 1 |
Wright had previously designed and built the Wright MPA Mk 1, which first flew in 1972. The low wing loading of that design affected the flight opportunities which could be made. The design of his second human-powered aircraft, the Micron, began in 1974 with the intent that it be robust and practical; to this end, it had a relatively high wing loading, thereby increasing flight opportunities.[2] It was also intended to be easily assembled and transportable in a glider trailer.[3]
The Micron was of conventional configuration. It was a low-wing monoplane, with a very streamlined fuselage and a V-tail empennage.[1] The pilot sat in a recumbent position, pedalling a set of bicycle pedals, and powering a pusher propeller mounted on a pylon located near the front of the fuselage.[2] Power transmission was by a cable/roller drive.[4] The craft made extensive use of plastics, expanded polystyrene, and carbon fibre. The fuselage, tail, and upper wing surfaces were all produced using moulds.[2]
The craft was completed by February 1976, and involved 200 hours of construction time.[5] A month later it was reported that the Micron was undergoing trials at RAF Cranwell, and was being hangared there alongside the Jupiter and Mercury human-powered aircraft.[4] The website Human Powered Flight reports that the craft was later converted into a single-place sailplane, which was based at the Buckminster Gliding Club.[5]
Specifications
editData from AeroModeller,[1] Man-Powered Flight,[2] and Human Powered Flight[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Wingspan: 76 ft (23 m)
- Wing area: 134 sq ft (12.4 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 40
- Propellers: 2-bladed, 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter
Performance
See also
editAircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- HMPAC Puffin
- Malliga 1
- MacCready Gossamer Albatross
- MacCready Gossamer Condor
- Paxton man-powered aircraft
- Weybridge Mercury
- Wright MPA Mk 1
Related lists
References
edit- ^ a b c Moulton, Ron (May 1975). "Progress with man powered flight". AeroModeller. Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK: Model & Allied Publications Ltd. p. 294.
- ^ a b c d Sherwin, Keith (1971). Man-powered flight (revised reprint 1975 ed.). Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK: Model & Allied Publications Ltd. pp. 177–178. ISBN 0852424361.
- ^ Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1975). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1975-76. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 238. ISBN 0354005219. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ a b Moulton, Ron (March 1976). "Man powered aircraft". AeroModeller. Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK: Model & Allied Publications Ltd. pp. 144–145.
- ^ a b c "Other 70s Planes - Micron". Human Powered Flight. Retrieved 18 March 2023.