Halton Jupiter

The Halton Jupiter was a human-powered aircraft which established distance and duration records in the early 1970s.

Role Human-powered aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Designer Chris Roper
First flight 9 February 1972
Status In storage
Number built 1

Background

The aircraft was originally designed in 1963 by Chris Roper of Woodford, Essex. Construction by Roper, and others, continued through to 1968, when ill-health halted work. In 1969, a workshop fire partially destroyed the craft. In 1970, the remains were handed over to Flight Lieutenant John Potter, based at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire.[1]

Development and description

The aircraft was rebuilt at Halton, by an informal group of RAF staff and apprentices, led by Potter. Some 100 individuals were involved with the construction, contributing 4,000 hours towards it.[2] The aircraft was substantially similar to that originally constructed by Roper et al, but with a number of detail changes.[3]

The Jupiter was a single-place shoulder-wing monoplane, with a pylon-mounted pusher propeller. The wing's primary structure was a spruce and balsa spar, with the secondary structure being made up of balsa ribs spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart.[1][4] The wing had a constant chord centre section, with no dihedral, with the wing's outer panels having both taper and dihedral. Differential ailerons were incorporated into the outer wing panels. The fuselage was of the pod and boom type. The forward structure, used to support the pilot and the drive system, was made of steel tubing, with the rest of the fuselage being made of spruce and balsa.[4] The pilot was placed in a conventional cycling position, and powered a pylon-mounted pusher propeller via a chain drive. The undercarriage consisted of a single geared bicycle wheel. The empennage consisted of a fin and rudder, and an all-flying tail-plane.[4] Lateral and directional control was through a horizontal control bar which could be pivoted in two dimensions, and pitch control was by a twist grip to the starboard side of the bar. The entire aircraft was covered in a silver Melinex plastic film, with the exception of the top forward section of the fuselage which is covered with a transparent film.[4]

Due to RAF Halton having only grass airfields, the aircraft was transferred over to RAF Benson, South Oxfordshire to take advantage of the latter's paved runways.[3] The Jupiter first flew on 9 February 1972, covering approximately 200 yd (180 m).[4] In a flight programme which continued through to the end of May 1972, and with Potter as a pilot, 60 flights were made. During that period, Potter amassed approximately 1 hour's worth of flying time.[1]

On 29 May 1972, Potter flew a distance of 1,171 yd (1,071 m), in a flight which lasted 1 minute 47.4 seconds. This flight, which was officially observed, set new distance and duration records for a human-powered aircraft.[4] Another, not officially observed, covered 1,355 yd (1,239 m), and ended only due to the Jupiter having reached the end of the runway.[1]

The aircraft is now in storage at the Foulton Halbard collection at Filching Manor, Wealden, East Sussex.[5]

Specifications

Data from Jane's all the world's aircraft 1972-73[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
  • Wingspan: 80 ft (24 m)
  • Height: 10 ft (3.0 m) (propeller blades horizontal)
  • Wing area: 300 sq ft (28 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 20.7
  • Airfoil: NACA 653618
  • Empty weight: 146 lb (66 kg)
  • Gross weight: 300 lb (136 kg)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed, 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter fixed-pitch, 150 rpm

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 30 mph (48 km/h, 26 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 20 mph (32 km/h, 17 kn)
  • Stall speed: 18 mph (29 km/h, 16 kn)
  • Wing loading: 1.00 lb/sq ft (4.9 kg/m2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. Sherwin, Keith (1976). To fly like a bird: The story of man-powered aircraft. Folkestone, England: Bailey Brothers and Swinfen Limited. pp. 81–85. ISBN 0561002835.
  2. Reay, D.A. (1977). The history of man-powered flight. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd. pp. 293–294. ISBN 0080217389.
  3. "Jupiter Continued". Human Powered Flight. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  4. Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1972). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1972-73. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 209-210. ISBN 0354001094. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. Ellis, Ken (2006). Wrecks & relics (20th ed.). Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. p. 217. ISBN 1857802357. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
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