Mao Yiqing lifted off last month on what was believed to be China's maiden manpowered aircraft voyage.
The 46-year-old aircraft designer pedaled his 35-kg flying machine MOZI to soar for 126 m in Shanghai's suburban Fengxian district.
The vehicle traveled 2.8 m above the ground for 20 seconds.
"There was no need to be worried. I knew everything would be all right, because we had done a lot of work to get ready," Mao said, smiling.
He explained the three years of preparation had made the flight "easy, logical and natural".
Constructed from lightweight materials, the MOZI has a 27.4-m wingspan and a rudder for steering. Mao pedaled the aircraft while seated in the fuselage.
While its design appears simple, its construction was "anything but", Mao said.
"Every piece of equipment was carefully calibrated and constructed, and then tested before the final piece actually used in its construction was made," Mao said.
Mao said he was infatuated with model airplanes from childhood and used to daydream about "driving" a plane through the sky.
After graduating from university, Mao worked as an interior designer before opening a remote-controlled model aircraft company in 1999.
Four years ago, he invested the company's profits to open the Shanghai OXAI Aircraft Company, which developed MOZI.
Mao and his colleagues will continue studying data gathered from MOZI's maiden flight to refine its design.
He said he was disappointed with Fengxian's space limitations and believed the aircraft could fly up to 15 m above the ground if there was enough space. "I've searched every nook and cranny using Google Maps Fengxian was the only suitable area in the city for the test flight," he said.
Mao planned to undertake a second flight in June, which he expected to be "better in every respect".
"Manpowered aircrafts are the pinnacle of energy efficiency, but it's not realistic for future aircraft to be manpowered, so more creative methods should be found," he said.
"So far, using (fossil) fuel remains the only way to provide large aircrafts with enough power to fly, and with the prices skyrocketing, any new technology using lightweight and efficient materials is good for the industry.
"If we can learn how to (develop manpowered aircrafts), we'll be able to make more energy-efficient aircraft using the techniques cultivated in the process."
Mao also hoped to develop and mass produce solar-powered aircrafts, although many experts consider them unfeasible.
Source: China Daily
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