SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Air Force announced Thursday that it has successfully developed a human-powered aircraft (HPA) that can fly by direct human energy, local media Yonhap reported.

    In two separate preliminary flight tests held last September atthe Air Force Academy in central South Korea, the "Sky Runner," which has a wingspan of 30m but only weighs 40kg, succeeded in flying 150 meters and 100 meters.

    "The flying distance was short but can be improved through systematic pilot training," Lt. Col. Choi Seong-ok, who is in charge of the HPA development, was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

    An HPA is a vehicle that solely relies on thrust provided by the pilot pedaling during take-off and flight, Choi said.

    The Air Force said South Korea is the fifth country in the world to develop an HPA, after the United States, Britain, Japan, and Germany.