Icarus Cup 2023

Jesse visited the Icarus Cup 2023 for a couple of days. This year, the HPA competition of the British Human Powered Flight Club was held in Manston. The former RAF Manston airbase has a 2.7 km long runway, which is also very wide. An ideal HPA runway, as we can take off in many directions given the shifting winds.

5 HPAs were present: Aerocycle301, Aerocycle302, Lazarus, LeDash, and Disco Volante. The last one is a new canard HPA, built out of left over parts of earlier Aerocycle experiments. Covering of all flying surfaces and the first assembly was all done in the big hangar at Manston. Airglow and Betterfly did not bother to show up this year.

Jesse flew in Aerocycle301, and made two flights in LeDash. This French/USA HPA has a much larger span (33 versus 23 m), and flies with less power. Some pilots flew for about a kilometer in it!

The weather was great this week, and we flew almost all days, sometimes even in the morning and in the evening. There were many flights by many people. LeDash had a great test flight week, both for the pilots as well as the ground crew. Alan, the 80+ HPA pilot of last year, made again a flight in Aerocycle301. And as you can see below, I captured both Aerocycles flying at the same time! It was truly a wonderful and unique sight.

One pilot managed to park Aerocycle301 in the one little grassy bump next to the runway upon landing. A nose over as the result, and maybe a broken ego. Bill Brooks and John McIntyre, together with a few others, were able to repair the HPA in just 2 days, and we got to fly it again!

The yearly BHPFC change of the board took place during the AGM. We also had a good RAeS Human Powered Flight Specialty Group meeting.

Here is an overview of the event with photos in random order!

The people of Icarus Cup 2023: HPA teams, competition marshals, and other interested attendees!
HPA LeDash from France joined the competition. It is a copy of the Dash HPA from Alec Proudfoot in the USA, but built by a French student project led by David Reungoat.
The first short flights of Aerocycle302 this Icarus Cup.
Jesse stayed with the LeDash team at a splendid AirBnB in Ramsgate. We ate much pasta for the carbs: we needed the energy.
The stories of Denis were memorable!
Aerocycle302 speeding down the runway.
Another flight, captured from another angle. The pilots were fond of doing speed flights, thus flying at slightly lower angle of attack.
Fixing foam damage on the wing of LeDash which happened during transport. Nothing serious.
Tom Stepleton, David Reungoat, and David Massot at the AirBnB.
Installing the mast with wires on LeDash.
Carrying Lazarus through the hangar door opening.
An Aerocycle and Lazarus in the large hangar at Manston.
LeDash flying in some light sea fog.
The first shakedown flights of LeDash on the apron in front of the hangar.
Team drinks at the Jolly Farmer after some nice flying sessions!
This chill Cali dude was, like, super relaxed.
Jesse in front of LeDash.
Both Aerocycle301 and Aerocycle302 in the air simultaneously! A rare event in HPA history.
Some discussions among the ground crew of LeDash before the next pilot and next flight.
Jesse squints against the sun, looking at the tail surfaces while doing a control check.
Another nice picture of LeDash flying. David Massot made the longest flights up to about a kilometer.
Jesse is taking photos while chasing Aerocycle301 on a bicycle to catch the wing when it lands.

To be continued.