Chyeranovskii BICh-18 explained

The Chyeranovskii BICh-18 Muskulyot (or sometimes Cheranovsky BICh-18) is an experimental Soviet man-powered ornithopter designed and built by Boris Ivanovich Cheranovsky. The BiCH-18 was a lightweight wooden construction biplane with two pairs of high aspect ratio wings moved by muscle power. It was first flown in 1937 by R.A. Pischuchev as a glider with the wings locked and launched by cable. On the fourth test the wings were operated by the pedals and a glide of 430m (1,410feet) was achieved.

References

Bibliography

• Book: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
• Book: Nemecek, Vaclav . The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918 . 1986 . Willow Books . London . 0-00-218033-2.