Human Powered Aircraft
The Southampton University Human Powered Aircraft Society (SUHPA) designs, builds and tests its own human powered aircraft. These flying machines are powered exclusively by the pedaling of their pilot, and represent an enormous engineering challenge. The Society is currently developing its Super Lazarus aircraft design, after our first aircraft flew for the first time on the 14th of June 2021 and won the RAes formula flight prize.
Welcome to SUHPA! We are a group of students building our own human powered aircraft, the "Super Lazarus". With a wingspan similar to a private jet (26m), mass of only 40 kg, and the legs of the pilot as its sole powerplant, the aircraft is a huge engineering undertaking! We are the only student team flying HPAs at the moment, but we may see some friendly competition with Strathyclyde soon as they develop their own aircraft!
We have three teams working on the project that you can get involved with: the design team, the manufacturing team, and the avionics team.
Our "Super Lazarus" aircraft successfully flew during the Icarus cup competition in 2022 and 2023, organized by the British Human Powered flying club. Join us for a chance to get hands on with Super Lazarus and help fly it in 2024!
Photo Gallery
The Committee
All clubs and societies within the Students' Union are run entirely by students. The student committee for Human Powered Aircraft this year are:
Head of Avionics
Head of Design
Head of Flight
Head of Manufacturing
Health and Safety/Welfare Officer
Lead Engineer
President
Secretary
Social Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Information
Constitution
All SUSU clubs & societies must have a Constitution which governs how they run
Download ConstitutionHealth & Safety
All clubs & societies are required to risk assess their activity to ensure it is carried out in a safe manner for members. Current risk assessments for Human Powered Aircraft are available to view below
Upcoming Events
Check out our upcoming events below: