Dr. Todd Reichert

Todd is currently working with a team of engineering professionals and students to build a human-powered helicopter, in order to capture the Sikorzky prize, which is given to the first successful human-powered helicopter to hover for 1 minute, and reach an altitude of 3 meters. The project is being funded through private sponsorship and fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.

Todd has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto and was the pilot of the Snowbird, the first successful human-powered ornithopter. During the course of his PhD, Todd developed innovative algorithms to accurately predict the highly complex aero-structural behavior of the Snowbird and led the team to its monumental success in 2010.

In addition to his aerodynamics background, Todd is a national level speedskater and cyclist, holding the current college human-powered land speed record and providing the power for the Snowbird’s record flight. Measured in a lab at over 1.2 horsepower for a full minute, Todd will be the most powerful cyclist yet to compete for the Sikorsky prize.