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Holy crap, there are planes that flew with 50 horsepower engines? Were they made of bamboo and canvas?

Apparently the great creeping evil of airports is ... suburban housing.

There still are! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipistrel_Taurus is 55 horse, and I'm sure there are light sport aircraft that are even lighter.

I believe the lowest power aircraft engine currently in production is the Swedish Radne Raket 120 at the manufacturer's claimed output of 14 hp. However, Wikipedia suggests that the only fixed-wing aircraft using this powerplant requires two of of them, therefore adding up to 28 hp.

If we're going to stay away from motor paragliders and other ultralights then you've still got the flight sustainer single seat gliders such as the Diana 2 which take off with an engine with peak 35hp power.

>Were they made of bamboo and canvas?

More like lightweight cotton fabric and steel tubing or Sitka spruce.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fabric_covering

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