How to get out of Dodge...

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If you must leave your preps to the very last minute this contraption could come in handy. No I don't know if it's compliant :)

LONDON - It looks like something from a James Bond movie but its makers hope this new one-man helicopter will help in the everyday battle against the rush hour.

Instead of sitting in traffic or cramming into a crowded train, you can strap on the helicopter and take to the skies. It is expected to sell at about #20,000 ($33,000) when it is launched in August.

Its manufacturer, Engineering System of Nagano, Japan, is looking for distributors to sell the machine around the world. It will arrive at a customer's house in kit form and take about 40 hours to assemble.

The GEN-H4 flew for the first time in public at the end of last year and is undergoing rigorous testing before its launch. The first users are expected to be flying enthusiasts who are keen to have vertical take-off and landing without the cost of a full-size helicopter.

With a pilot weighing 70 kg (154 lbs) " the same weight as the helicopter " the machine can remain airborne for up to five hours and, according to estimates, could reach 10,000 ft. Its top speed is 60 mph.

The user tilts a bar in front of him to direct the GEN-H4 left and right. Separate levers positioned next to each hand control the yaw and altitude.

The machine does not need a tail rotor to keep it stable because its two overhead rotors turn in opposite directions.

For safety the helicopter is powered by four separate 125cc petrol engines. It only needs two of these to land safely. If the worst happens, and three of the engines fail, production versions of the craft will have a parachute to fall back on. This could be deployed at the touch of a button and float man and machine to the ground.

Engineering System is also working on a version that can fold down and fit in the boot of a car. The aluminum frame will be hinged to make this possible. If successful, it would allow flying enthusiasts without landing facilities to drive to a field, unfold the helicopter and take to the sky.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), February 06, 1999

Answers

Andy,

I have a UltraSport 254 helicopter that I purchased in kit form from American Sportscopter, Inc. I also fly ultralight airplanes. This is a Far 103 legal Ultralight Copter that has a build time of 60 hours. I can hover this thing 5 feet off the ground with the nose pointed at the ground at a fairly steep angle. I have about $31,000.00 in this little toy and its an fantastic ride. Phone number is 757-873-3711.

Mike

-- flierdude (mkessler0101@sprynet.com), February 06, 1999.


That sounds incredibly cool ;)

-- Leo (lchampion@ozemail.com.au), February 06, 1999.

Unless they've made this thing a lot easier to fly than most helicopters, gonna need a LOT of practice, first.

My impression is that helicopters are a lot less fuel efficient than airplanes. What's the range and load capacity of the thing?

An ultralight or even a gyrocopter might be a somewhat better bet.

-- A (A@AisA.com), February 06, 1999.


This is starting to sound like a scene out of "Road Warrior". They had trouble getting fuel,didn't they?

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), February 06, 1999.

not to be overly cynical, but did someone say

"PULL!"

?

Arlin [sorry, but it really was the first thing I thought of...]

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 06, 1999.



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