Composite materials (also called composition
materials or shortened to composites) are
materials made from two or more constituent
materials with significantly different physical
or chemical properties, that when combined,
produce a material with characteristics
different from the individual components. The
individual components remain separate and
distinct within the finished structure. The new
material may be preferred for many reasons:
common examples include materials which are
stronger, lighter or less expensive when
compared to traditional materials.
Control of a slow flying, lightweight airplane
demands a high degree of skill as well as a
pilot who can generate sufficient power to take
off and stay airborne. The AHS Sikorsky Prize
has only recently been won by a team of
engineers at the University of Toronto after
more than 30 years of design attempts.
The concept of a human powered flight
competition first came about as a way to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first
human powered flight, when Derek Piggott flew
Sumpac, Southampton University’s Man Powered
Aircraft, back in 1961. Dr Bill Brooks FRAeS,
chairman of the Society’s Human Powered Flight
Group, said, “We felt it was important to bring
together leading technical experts and aviation
enthusiasts to discuss the advances in design,
methods and materials in order to encourage
wider participation in human powered flying.”
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