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World's Smallest Helicopter Ready For a Spin
inventorspot.com — Guinness World Records has declared the GEN H-4 to be the world's smallest one-man helicopter. Now the inventor of the GEN H-4, 75-year-old Japanese inventor Gennai Yanagisawa, will demonstrate the chipper chopper in the Italian hometown of famed aeronautical pioneer and "Renaissance Man" Leonardo da Vinci.
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- WordsnCollision, on 05/15/2008, -0/+16The Maestro, though dust for nearly half a millennium, must be smiling. Hope they cover his urn when the chopper takes off though... (cough)
- sanman, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2smaller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f09_yvcASLM- djchester, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Yes but you have to jump now and then to keep it in the air! :D
- sanman, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2smaller:
- EatingPie, on 05/15/2008, -3/+12I'd really like to know how safe this thing is, though. Does Engine Failure = Rock?
Sort of a deal killer if you ask me.
-Pie- DeskFlyer, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4All helicopters are capable of autorotation. Although on this thing it might still mean rock.
- bstory, on 05/15/2008, -0/+17Should the engine fail then the blades should automatically disengage so that they would spin freely making the thing land fairly safely. I want one - segway schmegway - this wil be the transportation of the future.
- GORby, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Helicopters are horribly inefficient when it comes to fuel efficiency, since just keeping it in the air requires a lot of fuel. Light human-powered vehicles with electric assist are more likely to become very popular in the near future.
Take this for example (more electric than human-powered): http://www.aerorider.com/
or this (mostly human-powered: http://waw-bionx.blogspot.com/2005/10/big-test-rep ...
or just google for velomobile electric assist
These get you where you need to go, and you stay dry and it's healthy...
- GORby, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Helicopters are horribly inefficient when it comes to fuel efficiency, since just keeping it in the air requires a lot of fuel. Light human-powered vehicles with electric assist are more likely to become very popular in the near future.
- Sanduu, on 05/15/2008, -0/+7I want one too, to avoid traffic
- samoan27, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2I wonder, when compared to rush hour traffic, if it's a gas saver too.
- WordsnCollision, on 05/15/2008, -0/+8Just remembered where i've seen something like this before... The Road Warrior.
- Number23, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2That was an autogyro.
- Eriksrocks, on 05/15/2008, -0/+8Is it legal?
- Taiyoryu, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1It's probably classified as an ultralight aircraft and subject to the same licensing and restrictions.
- DeskFlyer, on 05/15/2008, -0/+19In the event of power loss, you become a giant maple seed.
- fitqueenb, on 05/15/2008, -3/+4LOL, that is funny.
- quarby, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2haha!!
- fitqueenb, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6This might be the next way to transport yourself, landing somewhere might need to be worked out, however it will when more people have one. Price wise, not too bad, expected it to be more.
- billywest, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6If these things get popular, you won't catch me in one; Imagine how messy collisions would be, especially propeller vs. torso ones.
- jp12380, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Yeah, hmm 31 mph and chance of horrible death.
- quarby, on 05/15/2008, -2/+1cool, but absolutely no way i'm getting anywhere near one.
- CNAIF, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Funeral parlors worldwide collectively cheer.
- PhillyVC, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1awesome VIDEO
- PhillyVC, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/the_worlds_sma ...
- acegi, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Inspector Gadget?
- Tantrum, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Interesting concept. WOuldn't these need FAA clearance first and the pilot would need a pilots license? Those things will keep them out of the hands of average rush our commuters for sure.
- robinf1, on 05/15/2008, -0/+9This kind of thing falls under FAR Part 103 Ultralights which means you don't need a license you just need to stay out of controlled airspace by airports. America is great - we let you kill yourself any way you like.
- felix21685, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1i've been keeping my eye on this thing for a while, would love to try it out, with a parachute.
- SuminderJi, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Some major manufacturing company needs to take a hold of this - and mass produce.
The price drops to 25K, I'll get one! - neems25, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I would smash so many buns if I had that thing!
- bstew22, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4I would be a statistic if i had this thing.
- ericisroot, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Reminds me of the Gyrocopter from Crimson Skies.
- Hewbie, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1two words, death trap
- themacjedi, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I can haz comintz now?
- melonade, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Cool. Where do I make the purchase?
- domu, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0This thing is there since 1999, and may be more dangerous than you think. There was an interesting discussion on: http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20051024/gen-h4-per ...
- t0ny, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Cool but $58k? You can buy a nice Citabra for ~$40k.
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=citabria&ln ... - simoza01, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0What a gadget! Will it be coming to Asia?
http://health-simoza01.blogspot.com - ptcool, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0Please add it is about a PERSONAL helicopter. The smallest helicopter in my mind would be a robot, maybe the size of a mosquito.
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