A team of engineers in Canada have built the first successful human-powered helicopter.

The aircraft relies on pedal power alone to achieve lift-off.

The project wins a long-standing challenge set by the American Helicopter Society which offered a prize for a human-powered helicopter that could reach a height of three meters and fly for 60 seconds in a contained area.

The pilot of the aircraft Todd Reichert is both an aerodynamics expert and a competitive speed skater.