The members of the human-powered airplane team "AirCraft" at Nagoya University were shocked when their team failed to pass the preliminary document screening for the Japan International Birdman Rally in 2023. Despite this setback, they quickly pivoted toward a new objective: developing an aircraft that would serve as a foundation for the following year's competition. Throughout the year, they conducted multiple test flights, culminating in a final flight on August 5, 2023, at Hida Air Park in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. With alumni and human-powered aircraft enthusiasts from other universities watching, the team ended the season on a high note.
[Editor's Note: This article was originally released in Japanese on August 28, 2023. The information reflects details available at the time of publication and may no longer be accurate.]
Elegant, Flexible, and Powerful: The Flight of "Arcturus"
With the first rays of sunlight lighting up the quiet runway, the propeller of the human-powered aircraft named "Arcturus" began to spool up. With support members helping to accelerate it, the plane silently lifted off the ground. Drawing a graceful curve with its wide wings, the aircraft glided smoothly through the air. As it made its way to the end of the runway, the members were left with the feeling that this final flight of the season was the "most beautiful flight" they had achieved.
"Arcturus" takes off with the rising sun.
The romantic pursuit of flying without the aid of an engine motivates university and professional teams across Japan to build human-powered aircraft and compete for the longest flight distance in the Birdman Rally. Nagoya University has been a regular contender in the competition, but this year, it was unable to participate.
"The team was devastated, having lost sight of our goal" said Club President Kōhei Takami (3rd year, School of Engineering). "But we quickly shifted our focus to building a machine that would take us to next year's competition. We pressed forward and continued development."
Pre-flight gathering at the club's room on Higashiyama Campus.
The walls are covered with blueprints and photos of past aircraft, telling the club's long history.
Designing an Aircraft That Can Fly in Any Wind Conditions
Nagoya University has traditionally specialized in fast aircraft, winning multiple time trial events at the Birdman Rally. However, as the time trial category was recently removed, the team has been exploring aircraft designs suited for long-distance competition.
This year's concept was a "compact, high-speed aircraft." Tomohito Morimoto (3rd year, School of Engineering), responsible for the aircraft's design, emphasized: "The most important thing is the concept. Many teams focus on reducing weight to maximize distance, but Nagoya University is also committed to stability, ensuring our aircraft can fly smoothly regardless of the weather conditions."
The aircraft remained airborne for about one minute, easily covering the full 800-meter runway.
A Wingspan Comparable to a 150-Passenger Jet!
Even with its use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber and balsa wood, the aircraft, including the pilot, weighs 114 kilograms. The key to keeping it airborne lies in its large, strong, and flexible wings. With a wingspan of 30 meters, the total wing length is comparable to that of a Boeing 737, a commercial jet that carries 150 passengers.
The aircraft's control system is another unique feature. While most teams use a two-axis control system (horizontal and vertical), Nagoya University has added aileron controls to the main wings, allowing for three-axis stability. Morimoto confidently stated: "We want to fly at least 5 kilometers, no matter the wind conditions."
A distinctive feature of Nagoya University's aircraft is the front-mounted propeller.
Team members working through the night before the flight.
Rivals in Competition, Comrades United by Shared Passion
The final flight of the season was attended not just by 18 current club members and 8 alumni but also by members of 9 rival teams from various universities and professional groups, including Tokyo University of Science, Teikyo University, Nihon University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Toyota Technological Institute, and the University of Osaka. Among them was even a legendary pilot who holds the record for the longest flight in the history of the Birdman Rally.
"We were shocked when so many people showed up after seeing our announcement on Twitter," said President Takami. "We may not have competed in Birdman this year, but we conducted 10 test flights, which is more than most teams. Maybe our consistent efforts caught people's attention."
Two first-year students from Tokyo University of Science had traveled from Chiba Prefecture. They explained: "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we struggled to gather members and get taught the necessary skills by former members. We came to learn from Nagoya's team." Likewise, Toyota Technological Institute, which had paused its human-powered aircraft activities, sent four current and former members. "We really want to revive our club. This event was incredibly inspiring!"
Alumni, university teams, and professionals watched intently.
Beyond competition, human-powered aircraft enthusiasts come together as one.
Yūmi Iida (3rd year, School of Science) joined the club with an unusual motivation: "Since my major involves creating molecules, I wanted to work on something big in my extracurricular activities." As the only female member, she persevered through the club's physically demanding activities. "Although there is some heavy labor involved, it is really fun work. I hope more girls join the team!"
Pilot Hayato Takano (3rd year, School of Engineering) trained extensively in cycling while also helping build the aircraft. "We could not compete in Birdman, but flying together through all these test flights gave me a real sense of achievement." He recalled joining the club after being drawn in by how cool the senior members looked during recruitment when he first started university, and before he knew it, three years had flown by. "I guess this was my last time piloting," he said, smiling wistfully.
The 23rd-generation team: eight members dedicated to creating an aircraft for the future.
This article was originally written in Japanese by Tatsuyuki Fukui for the "Public Relations Meidai" web magazine and published on August 26, 2023. Unless otherwise stated, photos were taken by the author. The Nagoya University International Communications Office has translated and edited it for clarity while preserving the original content's intent. Certain information might be outdated. For the original Japanese version, please see here.