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Human-powered Helicopter Fails to Lift Off

Posted by michael on from the we've-got-hiiiiiiiiiiigh-hopes dept.

Peter writes "The Human-powered helicopter didn't even get off the ground. A team of University of British Columbia engineering students tried to win the $20,000 US prize offered by the American Helicopter Society. Three metres off the ground and hover for a minute was the challenge. But before the rotors were able to produce enough buoyant force they hit each other. More details: Vancouver Sun."

12 of 410 comments (clear)

  1. hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I dunno, for some reason, the second half of that headline seems pretty predictable after reading the first half :)

  2. Look on the bright side... by pyrrhonist · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...not getting off the ground makes it difficult to crash.

    --
    Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
    1. Re:Look on the bright side... by Epistax · · Score: 4, Funny

      If only this were true in software.

  3. I'm all in favor of alternative energy sources by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But killing humans and using them for fuel? That's horrible!

  4. If God meant for man to fly ... by Bob(TM) · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... He'd have provided more engineering graduate students.

    --

    The little guy just ain't getting it, is he?
  5. They hit eachother!? by TeVi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Peter writes "The Human-powered helicopter didn't even get off the ground. A team of University of British Columbia engineering students tried to win the $20,000 US prize offered by the American Helicopter Society. Three metres off the ground and hover for a minute was the challenge. But before the rotors were able to produce enough buoyant force they hit each other.

    I assume 'they' refers to the rotors, not the team...

  6. The art of flying... by bsd4me · · Score: 5, Funny

    The art of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

    --

    (S(SKK)(SKK))(S(SKK)(SKK))

    1. Re:The art of flying... by jcostantino · · Score: 5, Funny

      Informative? That should be moderated Funny.

      --
      Reviews with a twist! http://www.sardonicbastard.com
  7. Re:Point? by Sebadude · · Score: 4, Funny

    So not only am I paying top dollars to fly to europe, now I'm going to have to pedal for 8 hours too? Great.

    --
    Eh.
  8. Re:Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Attention passengers, we're preparing for take off. Please put your seats in the upright positions and your feet on the pedals. If you notice a fellow passenger failing to pedal, please quietly alert a stewardess that you suspect terrorism.

  9. At least they proved... by hcdejong · · Score: 4, Funny

    that the theory "helicopters can't fly; they're just so ugly that the Earth repels them" is incorrect. Oh well, back to the old drawing board...

  10. Re:No pretesting? by wwest4 · · Score: 4, Funny

    > These blades are huge, thick profile and with HUGE drag.
    > There is simply no way a human can spin and keep them rotating
    > for 1 minute at a speed sufficient for liftoff.

    Yeah, but it's merely an engineering problem. All they have to do is reduce the blade profile by (thick/3.212) to get to (HUGE-SOMEWHATBIG)+3, give or take a few hundredths of a BIG and it just might work.

    Could someone confirm my math?

    Oh I admit, it LOOKS grim, but isn't it a bit presumptuous to be a naysayer without any real data?