Gerhardt Cycleplane
| Cycleplane | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Human-powered aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | William Frederick Gerhardt |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1923 |
The Gerhardt Cycleplane has been called the world's first successful human-powered aircraft. It was designed by Dr. William Frederick Gerhardt (January 31, 1896 – March 15, 1984), and assembled by the staff of the Flight Test Section at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio. It was flown in 1923.
Its only successful human-powered takeoff went 6 metres (20 ft) with the craft rising 60 centimetres (2 ft) above the ground.