On the 9^th of November 1961 the human-powered aircraft “SUMPAC”, designed by David Williams, Anne Marsden and Alan Lassiere, students of The University of Southampton, took to the skies under the sole power of its pilot Derek Piggott sitting inside the cockpit. SUMPAC became the world’s first true human-powered aircraft and Derek became the world’s first human to fly under his own power, thus fulfilling humanity’s centuries-old dream to fly like a bird.

No more did humans have to jump off church towers or hillsides, often with fatal consequences. Derek was SUMPAC’s engine.

60 years on we celebrate this historical flight with an international cross-channel race.

We also celebrate Paul MacCready’s Gossamer Albatross which, piloted by Bryan Allen, successfully flew across the English Channel on the 12^th June 1979 to win the Kremer prize.

Five years after its launch, The Great Race has seen no successful attempts at the original Channel crossing challenge. Despite early interest, safety concerns and logistical hurdles made the event unworkable. In response, the committee is relaunching the initiative with a new focus: the “Race To Flight.”

Rather than racing across the Channel, teams are now invited to design, build, and fly their own Human Powered Aircraft. The aim is to support innovation, encourage wider participation—particularly from UK-based groups—and keep alive the pioneering spirit of human powered flight. Prize funds will be redirected to support practical, achievable designs.

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