Human Powered Helicopter

marcopo writes "In response to a 24 year old prize challenge from the American Helicopter Society, a number of engineering students at the University of British Columbia have designed a human powered helicopter. The prize requirements are 3 minutes flight at 3 meters, with only human power, and the team, led by UBC's Mike Georgallis, plans a test flight next Tuesday. The Vancouver Sun also has the story."

Comments

The Fred Flintstone Chopper

[mfh]

Yaba-Daba-Dooooo!!!!! ~~~~~*Sppppppplat*

Re:The Fred Flintstone Chopper

[plover]

More like the Fred Flintstone web server.

"Pedal faster, Barney, we're getting slashdotted!"

"Uh, gee, Fred, I don't think we should pedal any faster in this thing..."

"Just shut up and pedal, Barney, we'll be -- "

"FRED FLINTSTONE! YOU COME DOWN FROM THERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!"

"But Wilma, the slashdotters want to see our pictures."

"THIS INSTANT!"

"Yes, Wilma."

[ mechanical sproink sound ]

"Aww, gee, Fred, I told you this thing wouldn't last."

Bah, fraternities have had this for a long time

[xsupergr0verx]

Instruction manual:
1. Place helmet on head. Take a swig from your hip flask. Decide you don't need the helmet.
2. Spread arms parallel to ground.
3. Hum 'whirrrr' as you spin yourself to speed.
4. Upon striking your head on the floor on the way down, remark how free you feel in the open air.

OH NO!

[schnits0r]

First the machines use us to power helecopers! Soon they will have us power all their functions after we scortch the sun! Who is with me? We must stop this to save Zion!

Do corpses burn hot enough for a steam engine?

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

That's the only real question. They should be more careful wording the requirement.

Re:Do corpses burn hot enough for a steam engine?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes of course corpses burn, here's a quote from an expert

I shall only say that the fuel they use for the locomotive is composed of mummies three thousand years old, purchased by the ton or by the graveyard for that purpose, and that sometimes one hears the profane engineer call out
pettishly, "D--n these plebeians, they don't burn worth a cent--pass out a King;"

Mark Twain

I am willing to believe it. An AC can believe any thing.

Re:Do corpses burn hot enough for a steam engine?

[Anonymous Coward]

From the rules:

4.2.2 No member of the crew shall be permitted to leave or enter the aircraft at any time during takeoff or flight.

Drifting away as smoke and ash is probably included ...

Why bother?

[foidulus]

You already have the world's best human helicopter in Inspector Gadget.

TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT!

[Snover]

Oh man, their project is named Thunderbird. Quick, Mozilla Foundation! Send our your legions of lawyers! We must stop this blatant misuse of your trademarks!!

Re:Long way.

[Anonymous Coward]

I sure as hell wouldn't want to pilot it.

That's why you're posting on Slashdot and not doing anything useful. Same with me.

Simple!

[enginuitor]

Just put the human(s), bald and naked, into liquid-filled pods and wire 'em up for electrical power! Then build some hovering tentacled robots to do maintenance. Then... ...Or you could do it the boring way -- you know, pedals and the like...

Re:500 Watts

[emeitner]

Yeah, the competition seems to require alot of the pilots. From the FAQ:
We have built our own test rig that measures power output of a pilot over a minute duration. We have plotted the results of numerous potential pilots against their weight. A successful candidate is one that falls above a power requirement curve (power vs. weight). ... We have had people vomit after these one-minute tests. In similar tests in the United States they have had one person have a mild heart attack.

Vomit AND rotating blades, nice.

Re:Wings

[eingram]

I'm not sure what the average weight of vaccums are, but looking at my hand-me-down, just one would add an easy 50 pounds.