physically, what is stoping humans from having “flying bicycles”?

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“Japanese Student Takes Flight of Fancy, Creates Flying Bicycle” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJrJE0r4NkU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJrJE0r4NkU)

*Edit: Far beyond regulations and air traffic control issues, only regarding to physics:*

I’ve just seen this video of a Japanese student that has achieved making a flight of about 200 or 300m with a mechanism that turns the pedalling we normally do in a bicycle to the turning of a propeller.

Now, if we as humans and a very great bike can reach 40-50 mph (and very light planes such as cessna can take of with only 60mph – not to mention Bush Planes – all of these weighting easely 4 to 5 times the weight of a person + an extra light airplane design, specifically created for that porpouse) – why does this seems too hard to achieve/sustain? I can only guess its a matter of efficiency (or the lack of it), but which one of them?

In: Physics

34 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The Gossamer Albatross made it across the English Channel going less than 18 mph, so it’s definitely possible. Not exactly practical for commuting to work though 🙂

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