Keith Sherwin Explained

Keith Sherwin
Nationality:English
Known For:academic, author

Keith Sherwin is an English academic and author of publications promoting human-powered aircraft and engineering textbooks.

Early life and education

Sherwin was educated at the Anthony Gell School in Derbyshire between 1948 and 1953.

Higher education

In 1958 he gained a Higher National Certificate at Derby Technical College. In 1961 he received a Bachelor of Science from University College, Swansea. In 1968 he gained a Ph.D. from Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry.

Career

In 1968, he was appointed to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Liverpool. In 1969, he implemented a design project for mechanical engineering undergraduates in the second year of a three-year degree course, to design and build a 'sporting' human-powered aircraft. A donation of the remains of the HMPAC Puffin allowed the group to incorporate elements of that craft into their own design, which was called the Liverpuffin. The aircraft was completed by December 1971, but during taxiing trials on 17 December, a gust of wind flipped the craft, causing significant damage. Repairs took two months, with trials re-commencing in March 1972. The craft only flew once, with Sherwin as a pilot, covering 15m (49feet) on 18 March 1972.

During the 1970s, Sherwin authored several articles and books on the topic of human-powered flight, with the Liverpuffin being incorporated into his writings. His first book - Man-powered flight - was published in 1971 and canvassed technical and engineering issues which HPAs had to contend with. New editions of it appeared in 1975 and in 2007. His second book - To fly like a bird - appeared in 1975 and was non-technical in nature, with it surveying recent HPA projects and analysing their success or otherwise.

In the 1980s, Sherwin took up a position with the Nanyang Technological Institute and while there implemented an undergraduate programme for human-powered aircraft, resulting in the building and flying of the Aslam human-powered aircraft.

In 2007, Sherwin published his third HPA book - Pedal Powered Planes - with it incorporating details of significant HPAs which dated from the late 1970s on through to the 1990s.

Books

Human-powered aircraft

Engineering textbooks

Articles

Human-powered aircraft

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