Last updated 22/04/2024 by Yaseen
The Super Lazarus series of aircraft develops upon the Lazarus’ success. The Super Lazarus aircraft largely retain the main wing aerodynamics and structure of the original Lazarus Mk. I, but make several improvements to other systems such as propulsion and control surfaces. The most iconic of these upgrades is the decision to drop the 2011 carbon fiber road bike and adopt the “Dorito” fuselage design from team Aerocycle’s 301 and 302 aircraft (which were themselves inspired by team Airglow’s aircraft).
Super Lazarus Mk. I
The Super Lazarus aircraft begins here with the new fuselage design. Debuting in 2021, it was constructed from hand rolled carbon fiber tubes. Unlike the original Lazarus, the pilot now adopts a recumbent position – a chain transfers power from the crank at the front to gearing behind the pilot, followed by another transfer chain which takes the power upwards to the propeller shaft.
Super Lazarus Mk. II
Flight testing in June 2022 revealed several issues with nosewheel steering, braking, and power losses as the transfer chains would vibrate under dynamic loading and cause excessive wear on the chain guides. These, among many other small things were adjusted in advance of the July 2022 Icarus Cup competition. It is here SUHPA made personal bests in endurance (30 seconds) and range (~300 metres) categories of flight.
The COVID-19 shutdown of the university during the 2020/21 academic year had planted a “demographic timebomb” of sorts in SUHPA. Since SUHPA’s first flights were in the summer of 2021 with Lazarus, existing members of the society (with flight or ground crew experience) had joined at least as late as 2019/20 making them at best in their penultimate year of study and at worst, their final year – limiting the presence of experienced personnel at Icarus Cup 2022. While manageable, low recruitment in 2022/23 compounded the issue meaning that by 2023’s Icarus Cup, a large proportion of trained crew had graduated and left the university. SUHPA was able to repeat the successes and meet the personal best score of 2022 with a skeleton crew, but no one was free to film it!
SUHPA 