A team from the University of Maryland have set an unofficial world record for human-powered helicopter flight.

Students from Clark School of Engineering and faculty advisors from the the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center lifted their pedal-powered Gamera II off the ground for 50 seconds, a 400 per cent improvement on their previous effort thanks to its lighter weight.

The craft is powered by four giant, slow moving rotor blades spanning several metres in diameter, and takes a phenomenal effort to power, hence the limited flying time.

Following initial tests Gamera II has been sanctioned to make an official flight duration record attempt by the National Aeronautic Association. .