World's first battery-powered manned plane

Developed by Tokyo Tech students and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.

The students-developed manned plane powered by 160 AA batteries flew for 59 seconds covering 391.4 meters and soared as high as 6.11 meters above the ground.

The students are members of "Meister," a club mainly consisting of Tokyo Tech students who are interested in "creativeness." They enjoy extracurricular opportunities producing solar cars, human-powered planes and so on. They are particularly known on campus because of their excellent performances at annual birdman rally, a flight competition for human-powered flying machines.
In January 2006, they were offered by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. a project to fly a battery-powered plane: a plane not to be remote controlled but to be piloted by a man. What an exciting challenge!
Some "Meister" members and the Matsushita group immediately launched the joint project. Thanks to the students' experience in developing planes for the birdman competitions! A single-seated plane with a 31 meter wingspan but weighing only 54 kilograms was completed in April. The joint team then gave several test flights working to be ready for the demonstration in July.
The demonstration flight was made on July 16 in Okegawa, SaitamaPrefecture. The plane powered by 160 AA batteries took off beautifully and stayed in the air for 59 seconds reaching as high as 6.11 meters.
Kei Horie, a senior student and the student representative for the project, said, "We're extremely delighted to take part in the world's first project." He continued, "It's been really stimulating and inspiring." The pilot, Tomohiro Kamiya, also a senior student, said, "When the project started, I wondered if it would be successful. But I got confident while making several test flights." "Now I'm relieved and feel very happy with the result," he added.
The flight took place in the presence of officials from the Japan Aeronautic Association. The joint team will apply for the official recognitions from both the Japan Aeronautic Association and the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale).