Flying into the future: Product Design and Mechanical Engineering students take to the skies
Last week, LSBU’s Human Power Team took on a whole new challenge – human-powered flight! Four students from the School of Engineering and Design, including Product Design and Mechanical Engineering students, joined four staff members at the Icarus Human Powered Aircraft (HPA) Cup at Lasham Airfield in Hampshire.
The team flew Airglow – a legendary human-powered aircraft with a 25m wingspan, donated to LSBU in 2024 by the Royal Aeronautical Society. Built in the late '80s using hand-wrapped carbon-fibre, foam, and mylar film, Airglow is powered entirely by its pilot. A 70kg pilot needs to produce around 300 Watts just to stay airborne!
All flights took place between 4am and 9am – the calmest time for flying – with perfect weather conditions throughout the week. LSBU students Owen Jones (BSc Engineering Product Design), Herbie Turner (BSc Product Design), and Fabrel Parraga Michitsch (BEng Mechanical Engineering) successfully piloted the aircraft, alongside staff members Barney Townsend and Colin Parry. They were supported by external pilot Russell Bridge, who previously rode for LSBU in the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in Nevada, and Jesse van Kuijke.
This experience gave our students hands-on insight into the mechanical and sporting challenges of human-powered flight – from assembling and maintaining the aircraft to piloting it. The team is now looking ahead to designing and building their own aircraft next year, building on what they've learned from the Aim93 road bike project.
We’re proud to share that the LSBU team placed 2nd overall in this year’s competition, with flights lasting between 10 and 60 seconds.
Hear from our students:
“The Icarus Cup was an incredible experience. Assembling, disassembling, and maintaining the aircraft gave me a deep understanding of its mechanics – skills that will be invaluable for my career. Piloting it was like nothing I’ve done before.”
— Owen Jones, BSc Engineering Product Design
“I’m so grateful to LSBU for supporting Aim93 and giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
— Fabrel Parraga Michitsch, BEng Mechanical Engineering
🔗 Learn more about the Icarus Cup at the British Human Powered Flying Club
🔗 Discover LSBU’s Human Power Team and Aim93 project