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Pedal Power Takes A Nosedive: It was great while it lasted
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Pedal Power Takes A Nosedive: It was great while it lasted
Pedal Power Takes A Nosedive: It was great while it lasted. But the flight of Britains latest man-powered aircraft ended rather abruptly on Sunday (19-3-72). The plane, grandly named Jupiter, came down to earth with a crash after being caught by a gust of wind at the Royal Air Force station at Benson, Oxfordshire. But for the pilot, 28-year-old Flight Lieutenant John Potter, it had been more than a more flight of fancy. The bicycle-driven plane, which has an 80-ft wingspan, had stayed aloft for 44-seconds and flown a creditable 500-yards, spurred on by his energetic pedalling. Flight Lieutenant Potter stepped unhurt from a tangle of broken balsa wood and plastic foil. All is not lost, however. The plane, built with the help of R.A.F. apprentices, will be ready to fly again in a couple of weeks. And they have their sights firmly set on the £ 10, 000 prize being offered for a 1, 760-yard flight over a figure-of-eight course. Pilot John Potter takes his place at the bicycle controls of Jupiter before setting off on his maiden flight. March 1972 P001013
WATFORD
Mirrorpix
Media ID 21369197
© Mirrorpix
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Pedal Power Takes A Nosedive: It was great while it lasted. But the flight of Britain's latest man-powered aircraft ended rather abruptly on Sunday (19-3-72). The plane, grandly named Jupiter, came down to earth with a crash after being caught by a gust of wind at the Royal Air Force station at Benson, Oxfordshire. But for the pilot, 28-year-old Flight Lieutenant John Potter, it had been more than a mere flight of fancy. The bicycle-driven plane, which has an 80-ft wingspan, had stayed aloft for 44 seconds and flown a creditable 500 yards, spurred on by his energetic pedaling. Flight Lieutenant Potter stepped unhurt from a tangle of broken balsa wood and plastic foil. All is not lost, however. The plane, built with the help of R. A. F. apprentices will be ready to fly again in a couple of weeks. And they have their sights firmly set on the £10,000 prize being offered for a 1,760-yard flight over a figure-of-eight course. In this print captured in March 1972 by Mirrorpix from Memory Lane Prints collection titled 'Pilot John Potter takes his place at the bicycle controls of Jupiter before setting off on his maiden flight, ' we witness Flight Lieutenant Potter preparing himself for an adventure unlike any other. With determination etched across his face and hands gripping onto the handlebars tightly as if holding onto dreams itself; he embodies both courage and innovation that propelled him into uncharted skies. Though this particular journey may have taken an unexpected nosedive prematurely due to unforeseen circumstances - it serves as testament to human resilience and unwavering spirit.
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