Early Human Powered Flying Machine

[Tim Gunn]

Hello.

I am a collector of vintage bicycles and have just acquired this curious and interesting machine. I know nothing about helicopters or rotor craft and would like to know if anyone recognisers this machine and if anyone knows whome may have made it. I was found 2 years ago in a attic of a house in the French town of Brest in Brittany. I know nothing more. It has a wing blade span of about 5 meters and is pedal powered vie the frame beneath it. Some of the drive gear is missing and would need to be made, but the internal section has a seperate rotating fan which produces extra draft and feeds this out of vents onto the four wing blades. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Tim Gunn.Essex, UK.

More images here: http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/album.php?albumid=185

[Master Roda]

I don't know ANYTHING about it...and that's what facinates me Thanks for sharing.

[Scary Gary]

That is so cool !
How did you get it ?

[Tim Gunn]

Originally Posted by Scary Gary

That is so cool !
How did you get it ?

I was offered it via my website: http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk

[karlbamforth]

Thats amazing Tim, do you have any information at all about the builder or the address it was located at?

I too would love to learn more about it.

[Tim Gunn]

Originally Posted by karlbamforth

Thats amazing Tim, do you have any information at all about the builder or the address it was located at?

I too would love to learn more about it.

I only collected the machine last friday, so at present, I do not know anything. Once I have the location in France where it was found, I can then try to trace its origin. This forum seemed to be a good place to start and wondered if anyone had seen the design before somewhere in a book or drawing. I think from the style and look and the date of some of the components, it dates from c.1920's.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Mike Stone]

Yes...the early years of flight

[Lee Scatt]

That is an excersize bike.

[Kevin_Richey]

Although it could have been an attempt at human-powered flight using bicycle components, it might have been something as simple as a fan to keep folks cool in the summer heat and humidity, being pedaled by an employee of a family or at a resort. A human powered ceiling fan.

[karlbamforth]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Richey

Although it could have been an attempt at human-powered flight using bicycle components, it might have been something as simple as a fan to keep folks cool in the summer heat and humidity, being pedaled by an employee of a family or at a resort. A human powered ceiling fan.

Thats quite possible but most ceiling fans are nothing more than simple flat plates at an angle.

Someone put a lot of thought and hard work into the design of those blades. I think it looks aeronautical.

I think it is fascinating and would love to know more about it.

[Sita]

I agree with Karl that it doesn't seem to be something that was "thrown" together but was built with a lot of thought (good or bad ?).

I can hardly imagine that this is something from the 1920's although a friend of mine pointed me to some building methods used that where dated pre WW I.

The fan to produce "compressed air" for the tip jets looks to be using design features not common in that era.

Very intriguing design and no doubt a very valuable museum piece.

Gonna spend some time surfing the internet to learn more about it !!

Cita

[Kid]

Are you even sure it is a flying machine ??
maybe a tool to spread chemical or smoke out of the vents ??

[SandL]

You might try the science museum at wroughton , or better still the helicopter museum at western SM

[Scary Gary]

Originally Posted by karlbamforth

Thats quite possible but most ceiling fans are nothing more than simple flat plates at an angle.

Someone put a lot of thought and hard work into the design of those blades. I think it looks aeronautical.

I think it is fascinating and would love to know more about it.

I'm with you .
It looks to me to be an attempt at being airworthy .

[Tim Gunn]

Originally Posted by Cita

I agree with Karl that it doesn't seem to be something that was "thrown" together but was built with a lot of thought (good or bad ?).

I can hardly imagine that this is something from the 1920's although a friend of mine pointed me to some building methods used that where dated pre WW I.

The fan to produce "compressed air" for the tip jets looks to be using design features not common in that era.

Very intriguing design and no doubt a very valuable museum piece.

Gonna spend some time surfing the internet to learn more about it !!

Cita

I'm not sure what it is, but the experts I have shown it too, do seem to think it is an early attempt at flight and not something chucked together for a film or built by someone who did'nt know what they were doing. Someone had to draw it up and somewhere a drawing or photograph shows the design.