Flight Lab Limited Project 02 / Gliders 2010–2015
Flight/Lab Flight R&D
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Project 02 — Gliders

Birdman

Home-built gliders, launched off the end of Worthing Pier. In 2015, one flew 88.6 metres: the longest flight ever in the Leonardo da Vinci class.

A pilot in a yellow helmet hangs below a long white glider, flying low over the sea towards a marker buoy.
Fig. 01 — Worthing, 2015

Worthing International Birdman

Flights

Leonardo da Vinci class, for home-built craft
201588.6 m, 6.2 seconds in the air First place, National Piers Society trophy. Longest flight ever in the class.
201476.1 m
201222.3 m, 3 seconds in the air Top of the class on day one. Cross Channel Express, shipped from Hong Kong, dove straight in for lack of pitch response. The next versions got a shorter tail boom and a smaller tail.
201042 m

18 August 2012, four seconds off the pier

  1. The glider is carried to the edge of the launch platform on Worthing Pier.13:55:33
  2. The pilot and glider drop clear of the platform.13:55:35
  3. The glider skims just above the sea with the pilot's legs swinging forward.13:55:36
  4. The wing strikes the water in a burst of spray.13:55:37

Photos: Francois Malan

Other years

The glider leaves the Worthing launch platform with the pilot hanging below the wing.
2014–15 glider, launch
The glider in flight over the sea, with the Worthing seafront behind.
2014–15 glider, in flight
A long white glider being assembled on the deck of Worthing Pier.
2010, on the pier