Polniak LP Dedal
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| Polniak LP Dedal | |
|---|---|
 Three-view of the Polniak LP Dedal | |
| General information | |
| Type | Human-powered aircraft |
| National origin | Polish |
| Manufacturer | Leon Polniak |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| Developed into | LP Dedal-2 |
The LP Dedal human-powered aircraft was the project of Leon Polniak, a Franco-Polish engineer based in Kraków, Poland.[1][2] Dedal is Polish for Daedalus.
Inspired by the Kremer prize, Polniak began the design of the aircraft in 1966, and construction commenced in 1967.[3] Construction reportedly involved 6,000 hours.[4]
The Dedal was a wire-braced parasol-wing monoplane of conventional configuration, and fitted with a tractor propeller. The fuselage was of the pod-and-boom type.[3] The wing planform was located immediately above the fuselage, attached by a single pylon. The wing consisted of six panels, all of constant chord, with the two outermost panels set at a substantial dihedral angle.[3] The pilot sat in a conventional cycling position, and powered the tractor propeller via a belt drive.[3][5] The aircraft was primarily constructed from pine and balsa.[1][4]
The aircraft was due to fly in 1972 but, according to Jane's all the world's aircraft 1973-74, when it was 50% complete, it was damaged while being transported, with Polniak then deciding to build an improved version, the LP Dedal-2.[6]