At Benson in the English country of Oxfordshire on Thursday (29 June) man pedalled a little closer to the age old dream of flying like the birds.

Riding in an aircraft made from "balsa and baking foil", Flight Lieutenant John Potter kept his pedal-driven craft aloft over a distance of 1,171 yards, 2 feet, 10 inches (1071.6 metres). The flight lasted 1 minute, 47-point-4 seconds.

The previous record of 993 yards (908 metres) was set in 1962.

Although the record was set by the 20-year-old Flight Lieutenant, the craft was designed by 34-year-old Chris Roper, who says he started building it many years ago in his parent's back garden.

SYNOPSIS: The old bicycle principal was applied to a different method of transport at Benson in the English county of Oxfordshire on Thursday. Flight Lieutenant John Potter of the Royal Air Force was using pedals as the latest method of getting airborne - without an engine. The machine was originally designed by 34-year-old Chris Roper, who began building it in his parent's back garden many years ago. Later, the machine was badly damaged by fire - but was taken over and rebuilt by a team of Air Force apprentices.

Now for an attempt on the world man-powered flying record. It had stood since 1962 at nine hundred and ninety three yards.

Some hard pedalling, and the craft becomes airborne. For John Potter, and the builders of the machine.... the moment of truth. Progress is slow, but the craft shows no sign of making a premature landing.

Help was at hand should it be needed -- but John Potter was in no trouble.

Friends moved forward to support the wingtips as the craft slowly returned to earth. And good news for the man at the pedals...a new world record. He'd covered one thousand, one hundred and seventy one yards, two feet and ten inches.