S. Korea develops human-powered aircraft: Air Force

SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- The Air Force said Thursday it has developed a
human-powered aircraft that can be pedaled off the ground and propelled with
human energy to fly.
The "Sky Runner," which weighs just 40 kilograms but has a wingspan of 30 meters,
managed to fly 150m and 100m in its two preliminary flight tests last week, an
Air Force official said.
"The flying distance was short, but can be improved through systematic pilot
training," said Lt. Col. Choi Seong-ok, who oversees the development at the Air
Force Academy in central South Korea.
The propeller aircraft is manned by a pilot who provides thrust by pedaling
during take-off and flight, Choi said. The Air Force, which plans to seek a
greater budget for technical enhancement to the aircraft, said South Korea has
become the fifth in the world to develop a man-powered airplane.
The U.S. has the best record in flight distance by such an aircraft, posting
119km for over nearly four hours in 1998, according to the South Korean Air
Force. Japan posted 1.4km in 1983.
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