Our 3rd year design project was a human powered hovercraft. Dating myself (1980) but this was the era of human powered attempts in the news - Gossamer Condor, Albatross... Ours was redneck, beer budget contraption. Dual furnace fans blowing into the skirt. As if hovering wasn't enough challenge, the task was also forward propulsion & steering. So it had about 8 foot diameter semi variable pitch prop & rudimentary rudder. Humans actually make pathetically low power in most forms, but I seem to recall like 300-400 watts in sustained pedaling. Maybe more peak, but the mechanical losses are high. Which is why manpowered endeavors are so challenging even with high end components. Think of 3 x 100 watt lightbulbs dimly glowing while the skinny athlete is almost passing out- impressive huh. That's where we had difficulties. What we needed was the equivalent of an anorexic helicopter swash plate to transition from zero prop pitch while power was first diverted to levitating, then slowly phase in the prop to start propelling forward. This was before composite materials or ability to making things outside of common shop tools. So we got it lifting with mild fixed pitch, gave it a kick across a polished gym floor & called it good enough for pass grade. But the project was a blast. You could see who built go-carts & toy airplanes & repaired farm machinery... and the others who were.... destined to become managers HaHa.
