I might I could not get the HPA off the ground.

We weren’t the only ones having problems. The

Betterfly team’s HPA didn’t take to the air at all

that day – though their pilot, David Barford,

had already amassed enough points to win the

Icarus Cup. Team Airglow, whose HPA was

shared by two pilots who came second and third

in the contest overall, veered out of control

in a gust of wind and crashed into a parked

aeroplane. No one was hurt, but it made us all

very aware of how a light breeze can affect

a 30-kilogram aircraft.

That evening the breeze was still causing the

teams problems, so we had the runway all to

ourselves. I was determined that we should have

something to show for all the effort that our

team had put in to get us to Sywell, so we agreed

to have one last attempt at a flight.

Facing a 10 mph breeze, enough to scupper most

other HPAs, we knew that this couldn’t count

as an official record because the wind over the

wing would be working to our advantage, giving

us extra lift, although it would also be causing

extra drag at low speed, which was something

I would have to fight extra hard to overcome.

I wanted to concentrate on providing the power,

so we went for the same arrangement that we

had at Lasham, with Bill Brooks taking charge

of the RC unit. Icarus Cup rules stated that the

pilot had to be in control of the aircraft, but

we were now doing this for the team, not for

the cup.

With two of the guys supporting the wings,

I stood on the pedals and powered the wheels

forward. There was no holding back now – it

was all or nothing. I held it straight along the

runway and was pumping my legs so hard that

I could hear my heart pounding. Then, suddenly,

I was off the ground. It was a fantastic feeling,

floating through the air, but I kept up the pace

on the pedals and SUHPA flew on human power.

I stayed in the air for 50 metres (165 feet) at a

height of about 3 metres (10 feet) and a speed

of 29 mph (over 46 km/h). We’d reached our

target but it wasn’t a massive record breaker. In

any case the speed, although technically faster

than the Germans, wouldn’t count because of

the wind, the short distance covered and having

Bill on the RC – but the guys in the team were all

jumping about cheering and clapping, and I was

as happy as a dog with two tails.

I had now joined a very select group – people

who have pedalled an aeroplane into the air.

More people have made it into space, remember,

than have flown an HPA, so I stood on the

runway at Sywell a very contented man. My legs

were knackered, but not so tired that I couldn’t

make it off the runway to celebrate with a sip

of champagne!

GOING FOR THE RECORD   131