U of T student makes first human-powered flight in history

The 20-second-long flight in an Ontario field is believed to be the first of its kind.

A University of Toronto graduate student appears to have succeeded where Leonardo Di Vinci failed. On August 2 in Tottenham, ON, Todd Reichert made several successful flights in an aircraft powered entirely by his own movements. Humans throughout history have attempted to build such a device, but achieved little more than creating interesting newsreel footage. Reichert based his craft on sketches Di Vinci made in 1485, and updated the design using computer simulations and modern materials. The craft has a wingspan of 34 meters and weighs 94 pounds. Reichert, who had to lose 20 pounds to keep the weight of the device down, pumps a metal bar inside its small cockpit, causing its wings to flap like a giant bird.