Gamera Human-Powered Helicopter Team's 97-Second Flight Record Certified by NAA

Gamera Human-Powered Helicopter Team's 97-Second Flight Record Certified by NAA

Gamera Human-Powered Helicopter Team's 97-Second Flight Record Certified by NAA

97-second flight at the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville, MD (Pilot Justin Mauch and Team Member Elizabeth Weiner).
97-second flight at the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville, MD (Pilot Justin Mauch and Team Member Elizabeth Weiner).

Students from the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering Team Gamera have been awarded the official U.S. record of 97 seconds for the duration of a human-powered helicopter flight. The record-setting flight was officially approved by National Aeronautic Association (NAA) on January 27, 2014.

NAA officials were on hand to witness the record-setting flight that was achieved on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville, MD. Recently recruited pilot and competitive cyclist Justin Mauch, powered the helicopter through its 97-second flight.  

While the September test flights marked a closing chapter for Gamera since Canadian team AeroVelo secured the Sikorsky Prize in June of 2013, this flight surpasses AeroVelo's currently submitted duration record of 86 seconds.

Gamera's 97-second time has also been submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale for certification as a world record.

Since August of 2008, the Gamera Team has been engaged in an ongoing effort to advance innovation in human powered helicopter flight. The team has included more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering. The students, along with their faculty advisors Inderjit Chopra and V.T. Nagaraj, have collectively invested thousands of hours into the project, as the group continued to reach new landmark achievements over the past five years.

Official Records*

National Aeronautics Association (NAA) U.S. National Record
1 min 37 seconds, September 25, 2013, Pilot Justin Mauch

National Aeronautics Association (NAA) U.S. National Record
38 seconds, September 25, 2013, Pilot Kay Tsui

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Certified World Record
1 min 5.1 seconds, August 28, 2012, Pilot Colin Gore

National Aeronautics Association (NAA) Certified U.S. National Record
1 min 5.1 seconds, August 28, 2012, Pilot Colin Gore

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Certified World Record
49.9 seconds, June 21, 2012, Pilot Kyle Gluesenkamp

National Aeronautics Association (NAA) Certified U.S. National Record
49.9 seconds, June 21, 2012, Pilot Kyle Gluesenkamp

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Certified World Record
11.4 seconds, July 13, 2011, Pilot Judy Wexler

National Aeronautics Association (NAA) Certified U.S. National Record
11.4 seconds, July 13, 2011, Pilot Judy Wexler

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Certified World Record
4.2 seconds, May 12, 2011, Pilot Judy Wexler

National Aeronautics Association (NAA) Certified U.S. National Record
4.2 seconds, May 12, 2011, Pilot Judy Wexler

Pending Certification

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record
1 min 37 seconds, September 25, 2013, Pilot Justin Mauch
*All records were set for Class I-E (Human Powered Rotorcraft) for Duration

 

 

Related Articles:
Chopra to Receive Prestigious AIAA Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust Prize
Building a Bigger, Better Rocket Team
Hartzell Mission Scientist for NASA SIMPLEx Janus Mission
Work Hard, Dream Big
Alumna Hosts First Ever Spanish-Language Show for a NASA Planetary Landing
Modernizing da Vinci’s Designs
Aerospace Engineering Students Win at AIAA YPSE Conference
Clark School Aerospace Engineering Faculty Recognized by AIAA National Capital Section
Elon Musk Tweets Back
UMD Recognized as Leader in Cyclocopter Development

January 30, 2014


Prev   Next

Current Headlines

Four BIOE Terps Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month: Karenna Buco

UMD Student Awarded Wings Foundation Scholarship

Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month

Dean's Circle Spotlight: Investing in Ideas, and Access

Seven Current and Former Maryland MSE Students to Attend 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

UMD Eclipse Ballooning a Success

Seven Maryland Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

News Resources

Return to Newsroom

Search News

Archived News

Events Resources

Events Calendar