First time in history that a plane is launched by cyclists: the latest madness from Red Bull

In an experiment as improbable as it is spectacular, nine professional cyclists managed to tow an airplane into the air using only the power of their legs. The project, conceived as a technical challenge to see if it was possible to generate the necessary speed, around 45 km/h stable, through synchronized pedaling, ended up becoming an extreme demonstration of coordination, power, and cool-headedness.

Red Bull achieves an unprecedented challenge

The premise was simple on paper. If nine cyclists rode in perfect synchronization and maintained a speed close to 45 km/h, the aircraft should be able to lift off the ground. The practice, however, was much more complex. The first hurdle was evident. The runway available at the first location was too short to allow for a safe acceleration margin. Additionally, any failure in the tension of the towing system could endanger the cyclists, who were riding very close to the fuselage.

Before attempting to move the airplane, the team conducted a test by towing an e-bike to get accustomed to the traction of the system. The result was promising, and the group stabilized around 35 km/h at about 300-400 W per head, demonstrating that there was room to reach the target speed.

The first real test with the airplane ended abruptly. When the vehicle released the tow cable, the tension was lost suddenly, and the system got tangled with the rear wheel of one of the cyclists. The incident forced a redesign of the release mechanism and increased the caution of the group, who no longer wanted to occupy the last position in the line.

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With the system adjusted and the cyclists more tense than ever, the second attempt arrived. This time, the team managed to get the airplane off the ground for a few meters. It was a milestone, but insufficient, and the height did not exceed two meters, with the runway again proving too short for stable flight.

The team then decided to move the experiment to a longer runway, which opened the door to sustained speed for a longer time.

On the new runway, the cyclists started perfectly coordinated. With efforts close to 550-600 W per head, the group stabilized at 45 km/h and maintained the tension of the system without oscillations. From there, everything happened very quickly. The airplane took off, gained altitude, and maintained flight for over 100 meters before releasing the cable and continuing solo.

The euphoria was immediate. The pilot confirmed that the sensation of ascent was stable and that the towing had been surprisingly smooth for such an unconventional maneuver.

The challenge was not only successfully completed but also set a historic precedent. It is the first time an airplane has taken off powered exclusively by the coordinated pedaling of a group of professional cyclists.