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Personal Helicopter Available For $30,000
gsfprez writes "The question was recently asked on /., "will personal flight ever be viable?". The answer is "if you have $30,000 today, yes". They are looking to work with Americans who will be willing to help them with testing a few final steps of their GEN H-4 Personal Helicopter, such as ballistic parachutes. $30,000 to beta test a helicopter I can park in the garage? Honey, pass me 5 credit cards!"
Credit cards with limits as high as 6 grand? wow, that kinda makes my $200 limit seem less important... :(
that 30k is less expensive than that's really not that bad, and I am sure that people will be going crazy to take advantage of it...
(although...I can't IMAGINE if you had to insure one of those things...ouch...)
--"The revolution will be simulcast..."--
They want people...to test parachutes...in a helicopter.
Let me think about that one.
From the faq:
Q : Does it fly?
A : Yes, This particular prototype has been flown continuously since 1999.
I pity the poor SOB who's been stuck flying that thing for 3 "continuous" years.
I likes Chockomut ice cream!
$30,000 seems a little bit extreme for something that is composed of a harness, a few aluminum poles, and a motor with 2 rotors... even to rebate the R&D costs. With such a hefty price, this product will (it kills me) fly.
Yawn.
There counter says:
/. effect...
Today 116 yesterday 013
I cant wait to see that at the end of the day after the
--"The revolution will be simulcast..."--
So the FAQ dated 03/00/2001 (???) says the thing is expected to be delivered by 2000 - I hope the web site writer is not associated with engineering.
It's also not comforting that I am supposed to have a "zip-cord" just to get the info pack.
~~~~~~~
"You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
Q : Does it fly?
/Kevlar composite.
A : Yes,This particular prototype has been flown continuously since 1999.
Q : Can anyone fly it?
A : Yes, With minimum training, necessary for safety.
Q : How long can it fly?
A : It depends on the pilot's weight On average a 70kg (155 lb.) pilot can fly approximately 1 hour on a 5-gallon tank of fuel.
Q : How fast will it fly?
A : Maximum speed is estimated at 55 mph
Q : How much fuel does it burn?
A : 5 gal/hour When pilot weight is 70 kg (155 lb.)
Q : What type of fuel does it use?
A : 30:1 mixture of automobile gasoline and two stroke oil
Q : What is the fuel tank size?
A : Between 2 and 5 gallons Ultralight regulations limit the fuel tank to a max. of 5 gal.
Q : How big is the GEN H-4?
A : Rotor dia=12ft / height=8ft / net weight=140lbs / gross wt=380lbs
Q : How much weight can it carry?
A : Currently with 40 horse power the max. pilot weight is about 190 lbs. Larger engines are in the works.
Q : How is the direction of travel controlled?
A : By the control bar.
The entire rotor-head is supported on a gimbal, which is slanted towards the direction of travel by the control bar (in other words a weight shift controls the direction of trvel).
Q : Can it auto-rotate? (descend safely in the case of engine failure)
A : No. In order to keep the helicopter simple and easy to fly the pitch in the rotors is fixed making auto-rotation impossible. A balistic parachute will be provided in case of multiple engine failure.
Q : Where is the tail rotor?
A : The GEN H-4 does not have a tail rotor.
The two identical rotors travel in opposite directions making a tail rotor obsolete. The rotors counteract each others torque keeping the helicopter free of any unwanted spin.
Q : How is the yaw controled?
A : Yaw is controlled through a differential gear within the transmission.
An electric motor adjusts the postioning of a differential gear, which changes the speed of the counter rotating blades in relation to each other causing torque on the helicopter which results in yaw in either direction as directed by the pilot.
Q : What engine does the GEN H-4 use?
A : It uses four GEN-125 engines
Each engine is a 10hp/125cc engine. Click here for more info on engines
Q : What if an engine quits?
A : The stopped engine simply falls out of sequence and flight continues.
Each engine is independent with its own ignition, starter, and clutch making simultaneous loss of all four engines very unlikely.
Q : Can the GEN H-4 fly on only three engines?
A : Yes
Three engines is enough power to sustain flight in the GEN H-4. As each engine has its own clutch the loss of one engine results in it being overridden by the other three (the minimum power needed for hovering).
Q : What are the rotors made of?
A : Carbon
Q : Where is this GEN H-4 being made?
A : Matsumoto, Japan
In the Japanese Alps near Nagano, Japan.
Q : Who designed the GEN H-4?
A : Mr. Gen Yanagisawa.
President of Engineering System Co. Japan.
Q : How much does it cost?
A : US$30,000.(3,600,000yen
This is an estimated price as the GEN H-4 is not yet for sale.
Q : When can I purchase a GEN H-4?
A : Good Question!
Sales of PROTOTYPE models are expected to begin summer of 2000. When the GEN H-4 becomes available it will be clearly posted on this web site.
Q : What form will the GEN H-4 be sold in?
A : Kit form only. The GEN H-4 will be a completely experimental aircraft. Building time of the kit is expected to take approximately 30~40hrs.
...commit suicide for a heck of a lot less than $30k.
Seriously, I haven't heard the best things about aviation products so far. A helicopter is a particularly finicky piece of engineering.
Personally I'd like the propeller beanie Calvin always dreamed of.
for 30K. You have to put the forsaken thing together yourself, and obtain the nesscessary tools to do so, save the plug wrench for engines. You also need to buy a battery charger and a carriage. If anyone feels they can spend 30k to buy this thing, I'm sure those extra expenses aren't a big deal, but I personally wouldn't trust myself to fly around in something that had "some assembly required" stamped on the box, and I was the one who had to assemble it.
Why not fork?
Q : When can I purchase a GEN H-4?
A : Good Question!
Sales of PROTOTYPE models are expected to begin summer of 2000. When the GEN H-4 becomes available it will be clearly posted on this web site.
Well, since news of the GEN H-4 becoming available is not clearly posted on the web site and it's a couple year later, this may not be worth passing the credit cards for after all.
And can I have a Beowulf cluster of those?
cut-rate aviation products
Since I'm successively posting anyway, an experienced helicopter pilot I used to work years ago with said that a typical helicopter might give you six seconds to react to a power failure -- and the (inexpensive) Robinson only two. Piston-driven helicopter generallys are more probe to engine failure -- an internal combustion engine has a heck of a lot of parts, and power loss though not a death sentence is highly undesirable. Many of the bigger helicopters you see actually have twin jet turbines. Yet even with a working engine, a failure in the mechanical system driving the rotors is lethal.
Don't get me wrong, I think helicopters are way cool. But not foolproof.
The other major problem with personal aviation transportation is that there are few fender-benders in the sky. Also, the weather can nail you; it's too easy to convince yourself that sure, I can stay under those clouds over those hills... I'm not even sure I'd feel safe on the ground with every Dick and Jane buzzing around.
Check it out Andreas Project.
Now, that's a hobby!
-WolfWithoutAClause
"Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"I know I'm not a big fan of engrish, but this is just scary. Would you give these guys $30 000?:
22-Mar-02
Can you see someone controls GEN H-4??
Of cource, it is a radio controlled model. As you know, we can't several tests of GEN H-4 by manned in Japan. Because of Japanese reguration isn't suitable to develop new airplane. Therefore we developed the radio controlled model. The porpose pf this model is not only tests but also an aerial film and such.
"As you know, we can't several tests of GEN H-4 by manned in Japan." WHOAH!!!! Slow down there big boy.
HURD - Hurd's Under Research & Development
His what is what? I'm not trying to mock someone for communication skills in a second language. (My japanese is horrid, for example) but my earnest fear is that some critical safety information would be lost in the translation. ("Oh, so sorry. I meant to say DON'T press that button while in flight!")
--
They're not what you think, or what I thought. It is a forcefully (ballistic) deployed parachute attached to the helicopter. See here in relation to the GEN H-4.
I don't have a house. Alaska was happy enough to give me a card with limit of $10K.
:) And two first class upgrades.
Why would one need that much? Well, I have $600 in credit card bills per month (and put the car insurance on it as wel). And then a plane ticket can cost around $1200 for an over-seas trip. That leaves little room if the limit was around $2000 which was some of my earlier cards.
Did I mention that Alaska gives me miles for my spending and that I have enough for a round trip to Europe after only a year and a half?
"Would you rather have a playstation addicted dork wearing a star wars t-shirt?"
I do remember this one from 1999, and have been keeping a distant (envious) watch on the technology. Original website was at Engineering System Co, a company that seems eternally poised to make the next big thing. A different spin on the helicopter specs can be seen at this wayback page from 2000... the four separate engines sound good.
So now it's over two years late, costs just as much (only now we're in a recession), and I still want one! A landing pad would look great on our back lawn.
Okay, so if you're quite a bit less fat than I am you can fly this thing at 55mph (top speed) for an hour. Let's be slightly conservative and call it a 25 mile range for a round trip for a skinny person. In rain or high winds forget it. So what are its practical uses?
1. Getting to that remote fishing hole the lazy way.
2. Getting home from the bar with no chance of being pulled over.
3. Getting that aerial shot of your neighbor's wife sunbathing.
4. ????
5. Profit???
Well maybe getting home from the bar + fun factor = worth it.
Operator, give me the number for 911!
The SoloTrek will likely be available commercially at some point: http://www.solotrek.com/
The Moller Air Car is less likely: http://www.moller.com/skycar/
Ever dream you could fly? Get up from the Flight Sim. I Fly
From the FAQ:
Q : How much weight can it carry?
A : Currently with 40 horse power the max. pilot weight is about 190 lbs.
Larger engines are in the works.
"Honey, get off the treadmill, I have 50lbs to lose!"
Oh, wait, been there, done that, got a (X-large) T-shirt...
Aw, hell, I'll just wait for the bigger engine.
Maybe I could use that GM 3.8L engine from the car... 200hp should do the trick.
Have EVDO, will travel.
If you hop over to the Japanese section, you will see it feels much more up to date, and there is even a photo gallery.
Jumpstart the tartan drive.
Pictures (and ads selling the units) like the personal 1 man helicopter are nothing new and can be found in the back of Popular Mechanics for DECADES - yet you see no one owning one.
Moller SkyCar is a perfect example of something, that to me looks quite dubious... why? Let's see...
- The main page shows the "Freedom Motor" which is a gearbox (ie: small motor transmission - you can find them on small AC power generators) with an automotive starter coupled to it via a flywheel... sorry, though they have lotsa torque, nothing near the power/HP that is needed to fly - much less drive at any decent speed - a car.
- Going to the Freedom Motors site linked to the pic shows all sorts of "motors" - which look more like standard US car alternators or generators (arent they inversely named??). Now, while a generator may be able to be used as a motor, again, the unit would not have enough power to move a car much less fly it...
- Installed engine power: 645 hp (Moller claim) - while their engine site shows 120hp max, a drawing of inconspicuous identity, with the images of alternators and starters being claimed as combustion motors
- While Solotrek seems to have more believable claims - perhaps that is also what makes them so less believable... they're working with lots of government agencies on this project... neat! (Really??? or have those agencies just said "Well, if you get it to work, call us, we'll be interested then").
- Fortunately, to make me a believer, they have a bunch of pictures of "tethered" (from above... ie: suspended on a "rope", superman style) flight. So.... wil it actually work on it's own one day, or does it come with the crane, and crane operator to hoist you into the air? And all for a whopping 19 seconds! Wow! I can make it all the way... across my yard... in that time! My travel problems are over!
Weird, huh?Perhaps one day, someone will come up with something that works, or something that looks more realistic or believable. The Wright brothers actually built something and flew it... no tethers, no pictures of alternators and engine starters claimed to be combustion engines... make it, cut the ropes, fly it and then talk to us.
- Rob
The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own. Anyone who agrees with them may also suffer from the same mental problems I do... whatever they are. ;-)
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As of now 1161.
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
- W. Wriston, former Citibank CEO
when I was kid, I always read through the ads at the back of popular Mechanics, because I wanted o buy some of the plans for a personal helicopter. Or a submersible.
Check out Rotorway (http://www.rotorway.com/) which offers the Exec 162F as a kit helicopter. These things are supposedly a little bit more "twitchy" and not as forgiving as a bigger helicopter (less time to react and less angular momentum stored in the blades in the case of a power failure) but for $65k you get a well-tested and engineered system backed by a "real" company and not someone running an operation out of their garage. The system this article references seems to be the ultralight of the rotorcraft world and not the Cessna 162 or GlassAir...
Maybe the Canadian Air Force could replace their antiquated fleet of Sea Kings with these choppers.
How ya like dat?
You can go a long ways flying continuously for three years!
2056@ 16:38PM? is that all that /.'s got in it?
Q : How much weight can it carry?
/. audience won't be able to ride. Get it... large.
A : Currently with 40 horse power the max. pilot weight is about 190 lbs.
Unfortunatly, a large portion of the
Ha ha ha ha.
*ducks and runs*
THIS SPACE FOR RENT
How about the AirScooter!
Popsci did a bit on it here
You might save 5k too.
SCO (noun.)- A Slimy Corporate Ogre. Often seeks free money.
For way over a decade the standard rate for Gold cards is a $5K limit, Platinum is over $5K. Then there is also the rumored American Express "Black" card, with an incredible limit that can be used to by a helicopter, etc. You don't have to (and can't anyway, there are no applications for it) apply for these, they ask YOU if you want it.
2835 as of right now. I thought the ./ effect was much more severe. However, this is on an article with 60 (score:1) posts. Imagine what happens to the 400-700 post jobs.
Yesterday: 013
Today: 3104
Oh yeah, and it's 6am on the East Coast of the US. (and I'm already at work... ugh..)
Find me in ~/.sig
... hovering over a beowulf cluster in one of these!
This site even uses the stereotypical Japanese style of speaking english...
"Because of Japanese reguration isn't suitable to develop new airplane."
"Anyway, long story short... is a phrase whose origins are complicated and rambling...." - Abraham Simpson
This thing should have flown long ago. Maybe with lousy fuel economy, range, and operating cost, but it should have flown. Lots of small thrust-type air vehicles were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and many ended up at the Hiller Aviation Museum in Redwood City, CA. They have a Hiller Flying Platform, which flew quite successfully. They also have a Rotorcycle, which is a one-person portable helicopter from 1957.
Ultralight helicopters have been available for a few years now. Ones slightly heavier than the ultralight category are better machines, though.
I was pretty excited about this thing until I made it to this FAQ entry:
Q : Can it auto-rotate? (descend safely in the case of engine failure)
A : No.
As cool as being able to fly around would be, I value my life. They say the provide a balistic parchute in case of engine failure. They don't seem to mention how you would survive going through the blades though. Do they detach, or do you just hope you're insanely lucky?
Life is too short to proofread.