Zinno Olympian ZB-1

The Olympian ZB-1 was the first human-powered aircraft to have flown in the United States.[1][2][3] It was designed, built, and flown by Joseph A. Zinno, of North Providence, Rhode Island. Zinno had previously been a USAF Lieutenant Colonel, and undertook the challenge of making a human-powered aircraft as a post-retirement project.[3][4]

Design work began in January 1972 with construction, said to have involved 7,000 hours, commencing in March 1973.[1][5]

The aircraft was a mid-wing monoplane, with a pod and boom configuration. The fuselage's primary structure was made from light alloy tubing, whereas the wing's had a box-spar made from wood and plywood. The secondary structure was made using aluminum, wood, ply, foam and plastics. The entire aircraft was covered in a transparent plastic film.[1] The wing had a complex planform, consisting of four separate sections, of varying tapers and chords.[5] A high camber Wortmann airfoil, the FX72-150, was used inboard near the wing-root while, further outboard, the more efficient Wortmann FX63-137 section was selected. Zinno stated this was "to compensate for the hellatious diving moment".[4]

The pilot sat in a recumbent position, and operated a reciprocating pedal drive system, to power a two bladed variable-pitch pusher propeller, located at the rear of the streamlined nacelle.[1] A boom at the base of the nacelle extended to the empennage at the rear. Directional control was by a fin-mounted counter-balanced rudder. Pitch control was by an all-flying tail-plane fitted to the trailing edge of the tailfin. Lateral control was attained by wingtip ailerons.[1] The undercarriage consisted of two bicycle wheels arranged in tandem, while two small wheels, on outriggers, were positioned underneath the wing.[1]

On January 16, 1976, the FAA gave the aircraft an Airworthiness Certificate with the registration NIZB.[5] Flight tests were conducted at the Quonset Point Air National Guard Station in Rhode Island, with Zinno acting as pilot. A series of taxiing trials began on April 15.[2] On the morning of April 21, during its fourth run of the day, the Olympian flew for 5 seconds.[4] The distance covered was variously reported to have been between 33 and 100 feet (10 and 30 meters).[5] During landing, the aircraft suffered a ground loop, which damaged the undercarriage and other components.[2]

Further tests were conducted in September 1976, with the aircraft making towed flights. On its final flight, the right wing suffered a structural failure of the wing-spar, at its root, damaging the aircraft beyond repair.[6]