Since 2010 we've been pushing the boundaries of human powered vehicle design. We have proven that seemingly impossible feats are made possible through innovations in approach, design, and hard work.
What We've Achieved
- Fastest human-powered vehicle on earth at 89.59 mph (Battle Mountain World Human-Powered Speed Challenge, 2016)
- FAI Group Diploma for outstanding contributions to the field of aeronautics, 2016 (FAI Honorary Group Diploma for Aeronautics).
- Belt of Orion Award for Excellence from the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, 2015 (Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame).
- Awarded the A.H.S. Sikorsky prize for the Atlas human-powered helicopter, 2013.
- FAI Group Diploma for first flight of a human-powered ornithopter, 2011 (FAI Honorary Group Diploma for Aeronautics, 2011 award 6708)
- Guinness Book of World Records: First human powered aircraft with flapping wings (Guinness Book of World Records 2012)
- First successful human-powered aircraft in Canada.
- Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute Trans-Canada Mckee Trophy, Awarded to Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson (CASI 2011).
Current focus: Eta Speedbike
Our current focus is the continued development of the Eta speedbike designed specifically for human-powered land-speed record. In 2015, Aerovelo first succeeded in surpassing the previous record of 133.5 kph, and has incremented the record four times since, most recently with an astounding 144.17 km/hr (89.59 mph). Eta has now matched its design predictions... but there is still more that can be done. Learn more about the Eta speedbike project here.
Atlas helicopter
On June 13, 2013, Aerovelo’s Atlas human‐powered helicopter won the AHS Igor I. Sikorsky Challenge and its $250,000 prize. During the record-breaking 64 second flight, Atlas reached a height of 3.3 metres, meeting all requirements of the 33 year old aviation challenge. Spanning over 150 feet and weighing less than 120 lbs, Atlas is an incredible testament to doing more with less.
Snowbird ornithopter
The human-powered ornithopter project was driven by the desire to achieve one of humanity’s oldest aeronautical dreams with the successful flight of a human-powered, flapping-wing aircraft. On August 2nd, 2010 the Snowbird sustained both altitude and airspeed for 19.3 seconds, becoming the world's first successful human-powered ornithopter. The Snowbird was designed and constructed by members of the Aerovelo team as part of the University of Toronto's Human-Powered Vehicle Design Team.
“When people say it’s not possible, it’s because they haven’t thought about how to make it possible. And that’s our business. Making the impossible happen is what we do.”