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Personal Helicopter

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the McCarthy-James-McCarthy dept.

So the BBC says: "Personal helicopter set for lift-off." The next best thing to telecommuting. I can hear you cynics scoff, since it hasn't actually been demoed flying yet, but you know you still want to look at the photos. Try not to look. I dare ya.

P.S. We have to post one of these stories every five months. It's in our contract. (CT:Plus we're jealous that Popular Mechanics always gets to have hovercrafts and personal planes on their covers)

10 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. How's the weather up there? by Goonie · · Score: 3
    Has anybody considered just how *cold* flying one of these devices would be? I might be persuaded to try one in an Australian summer, but winter - I don't think so.

    Not to mention just how noisy the gadget would be . . .

    --

    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo
    --Andy Finkel (J. Klass?)
  2. Licenses, licenses, licenses by Brento · · Score: 3

    Remember, folks, the FAA has a long way to go before you can lift off in your own personal chopper.

    Besides, hell will freeze over before I'd feel safe flying around my city in one of those things. I'd have to fly past a somewhat seedy neighborhood on the way to work, and I can just see guys "busting a cap in my ass", as they say. "Hey, look, there goes a guy in one of them homemade cheap choppers! See if you can get him with your nine."

    --
    What's your damage, Heather?
  3. Think Star Wars. by yerricde · · Score: 3

    In a few scenes in the STAR WARS® movies, traffic can be seen overhead moving in straight lines. Anyone care to comment on a system like this?
    <O
    ( \
    XGNOME vs. KDE: the game!

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  4. "Ultralight" Helicopters by arbitrary · · Score: 3

    For those of us who are a mite bit impatient, check out This link ( http://members.tripod.com/~the_indian/helicopter.h tm ) for instructions on how to make your own "ULTRALIGHT" FAA-License free chopper. Nifty.

  5. Ummm... by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 5
    "Why were you late for work, Dave?"

    "Geese migrating." *spits out a feather*.

    - A.P.
    --


    "One World, one Web, one Program" - Microsoft promotional ad

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  6. Traffic Problems by Chasuk · · Score: 5

    Can you imagine what it will be like if these things take off? Er, I mean, can you imagine what it will be like if these things get off the ground? Wait! Try again - can you imagine what it will be like if these personal helicopters become popular, and tens of thousands of them are whizzing about overhead?

    I'm flying to work, and I'm stuck in traffic three rows thick, which I have to navigate horizontally _and_ vertically? And how horrific would a three 'copter collision be, when, not only would the "flyers" be killed, but the innocents below, crushed and sliced by falling debris?

    Of course, there would now be the loser who would hop in his 'copter to fly across the street for a loaf of bread - the coolness factor might make the temptation too great - and then there would be me, watering my lawn from 50 feet in the air!

    --
    Neopets - the best free game on the Int
  7. Re:Where are my flying cars? by Rudolfo · · Score: 5

    Its the year 2000! I was promised flying cars! Where are my flying cars!

    They also promised us worldwide nuclear destruction. Sometimes life is unfair.
    ===

  8. Where are my flying cars? by lordpez · · Score: 5

    Its the year 2000! I was promised flying cars! Where are my flying cars!

  9. just great! by emgeemg · · Score: 5

    If you thought that moron driving down the highway in his SUV doing 90mph while talking on his cellphone was bad, you just wait! That'll be just what I need. Idiots in personal helicopters distracted by cellphones, crashing into my house.

  10. Nice try... by buff_pilot · · Score: 5

    I hope the glass is half full on this one, but it will probably be empty instead. It's a great theory, one that's been tried time and time again. The Hiller flying platform being one of the first and most recognizable: http://www.shreve.net/~jnuts/fly/hiller.htm Lots of other folks have built upon a similar theme, most with multiple engines, some with ducts, some without, but ALL of them have a larger duct area or rotor span. I just don't think they'll get the thrust, much less handle the control problems. for some more examples (that are flying): http://www.flying-platform.com/ http://www.vtol.co.il/page1.html http://www.shreve.net/~jnuts/fly/old/helivector.ht ml