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Human Powered Flight Exhibit


Highfield Campus



Building: 42

Room: Level 3

Age suitable for: All ages

Accessibility alert:
  • Tactile activities for visually impaired
Visit:    



Have you ever wondered what it would take to get a human to fly, purely with the power of their own muscles? Wonder no longer when you visit our exhibit!

In 1961 the first human-powered takeoff and flight was performed by students at the University of Southampton and over 50 years later, students in the University's SUHPA society continue to honour this achievement. Our human powered aircraft rivals the wingspan of jet-powered regional airliners, and through our exhibit you will learn more about what it takes to build one. Watch clips of our flights, play with our flight-tested hardware, and chat with the students responsible. There are currently only 3 teams actively flying human powered aircraft in Europe - don't miss your chance to meet the UK's only active, all-student human powered flight team.