Just when you thought you'd seen it all...

[C.A.B.]

If I had made a bar bet about it, I would have lost miserably. A Human Powered Helicopter is now a reality, and it looks nothing like the flying egg-beater from that early Flintstones episode. Actually, I'm pretty amazed... its not practical, but still pretty amazing. Check it out (there is a video on the lower right of the page) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-powered_helicopter

Probably the one time that annoyingly over-used word "Amazing" is applicable.

 

[Myriads]

Interesting. Beating the weight to max human energy output bar is impressive.

I wager the thing is made out of all sorts of expensive carbon fiber parts, and the operator was a lightweight.

Myriads

 

[milagros317]

I'm willing to bet that only a trim athletic person can fly it. 😀

 

[C.A.B.]

Interesting. Beating the weight to max human energy output bar is impressive.

I wager the thing is made out of all sorts of expensive carbon fiber parts, and the operator was a lightweight.

Myriads

I'm willing to bet that only a trim athletic person can fly it. 😀

Yeah, I don't think there will be a lot of Ralph Kramdens applying for pilot duty. har har

 

[kopfhorer]

Wonder what Leonardo DaVinci would have thought? He had some designs for helicopters on the drawing board waaay back in another day!

 

[Tidas]

Pretty awesome stuff! Engineering the shift from hovering to forward momentum must have been quite a task.

 

[C.A.B.]

Pretty awesome stuff! Engineering the shift from hovering to forward momentum must have been quite a task.

All he did was fart. "And awaaaaay we go!"

 

[Bohemianne]

"Amazing!"

 

[DontAskJusTckle]

Hah. I thought I was the only one who'd remember that Flintstones episode. Eight feet is really amazing. Imagine how high he could get without a roof over his head!

 

[BigJim]

Wonder what Leonardo DaVinci would have thought? He had some designs for helicopters on the drawing board waaay back in another day!

He called it the "aerial screw" I believe (Stop tittering at the back there!) and it wouldn't have got off the ground even if he had a power source. Interesting idea, but he was some way off.