Zinno

The outside skin and overall design was Joe's - and was hand-made in Rhode Island. The propulsion and the cage (which appears Joe is pedaling in) was co-designed and fully built by his brother Clarence in Orlando Florida in his (then) garage at Tellson Place. I helped. We'd take regular trips to Hughes Supply to buy aluminum aircraft tubing - which you can see encases the pilot. Clarence loaded the bicycle-like cage onto the top of his Chrysler station wagon and drove it to Rhode Island where he and Joe mated it to the fuselage in 1976.

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Clarence Zinno was my great grandpa and Joseph Zinno was my great uncle on my dads side. To him, uncle and grandpa. I saw the little part the Zinno's had in a Smithsonian muesem in Washington DC. I feel great that my family is famous!

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Norm, I realize I am very late to this party, but I remember your Uncle Joe and Uncle Clarence. My brother was even lucky enough to sit in the ZB1 and give it a little push on the pedals!

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First controlled flight in Americas [Bernhard C. F. Klein, USA, millpab=aol.com, 05.07.2008
This pedalpowered "aircraft" was designed and built by Lt.Col. Joe Zinno, USAF (Ret.) On his fourth try on 21 April 1976, at Quonset Point, RI. Zinno barely got off the ground for just a few seconds. The machine was damaged in a hangar by a gust of wind, however, coming in through the open door.

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Norm Clegg II: Thank you for your witness and your great uncle. Never mind those who's words are only "the production of rust".

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There's a difference between except and accept.

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He not only designed it and mostly built it, he also powered it and flew it. Notably multi-talented, and recognized by the Smithsonian and Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame as the first American to fly powered by himself, his only lapse was naming the craft "Olympian" with it's pagan connotaion. As a result, the Breath of God destroyed the craft in the hangar. "Render unto Sears"

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Norm Clegg Take your religious stuff to an appropriate venue. We worship airplanes here.

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This is my great Uncle Joe and I remember this historic event well. I remember his thumbnail drawings when I was a child. Follow your dreams and with God ....all things are possible. Except Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior today... Romans 10, 9 and 10.

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Additional info.: Lt.Col.Zinno, USAF (Ret.) called his contraption the ZB-1 "Olympian."

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Tis pedalpowered "aircraft" was designed and built by Lt.Col. Zinno, USAF (Ret.) On his fourth try on April 21, 1976, at Quonset Point, RI., Joe Zinno barely got off the ground for a few seconds. The machine was damaged in a hangar by a gust of wind, coming in throgh the open door.

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