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9 Amazing, Cute, Or Just Crazy Personal Helicopters and Rotorcraft
I don't know about you, but getting stuck in the traffic pulls my nerves. And this doesn't happen often to me: I don't want even to think about people who have to deal with it every day. Well, here are several amazing transportation devices that can solve this problem.
Technically not all of these are classified as personal helicopter, but they are all perfect for one or two persons. Of course, you'll have to wait a little bit before using such personal rotorcraft becomes allowed in the cities :D
UFO HeliThruster
UFO HeliThruster is an autogyro developed in New Zealand. Currently it's sold for NZ $63,000 as a kit that you can build yourself or NZ $75,000 as ready to fly aircraft. Cruise Speed: 100 mph.
AirScooter II
Photo by misterbisson
A helicopter which can land on water? Why not! If you don't have a heliport around you, you could land in the lake. Its maximum speed is 55 knots (100 km/h) and it consumes 5 gallons of fuel for two hours. Not the most economical vehicle, but let's be frank, it's a real helicopter.
Visit Airscooter official site to learn more.
GEN H-4 Personal Helicopter
This Japaneese wonder is advertised as The world's smallest co-axial helicopter and is sold in kit form, so you'll need to build it yourself. Its price is approximately $30,000 and its maximum speed is 55 mph so it ranks as slow. Fuel consumption is 5 galons per hour. Not the most comfortable I can guess by the picture, but looks pretty exciting.
Moller Volantor
This isn't exactly a rotorcraft, but how could I resist including it? Moller Volantor is a flying hovercraft which for now remains only a prototype. If it ever reaches the market, it's supposed to cost about $100,000.
This definitely isn't the answer to your traffic problems, but it just looks very cool.
The "Hummingbird" Flying Platform
While we are on strange and not so practical aircraft, take a look at the "Hummingbird" Flying Platform. How about commuting to work with such a thing? Probably not a good idea considering it's speed of 40 knots and endurance of only 30 minutes.
Kinney Hot Rod Helicopter
If you are looking for a practical solution, the cute Kinney Hot Rod Helicopter might be a much better option than the previous two flying saucers. The minor problem is that this is a homebuilt aircraft and the site sells only plans - so you will need to build the helicopter yourself! Unless of course you find it for sale from someone who already built it.
Kinney is good for transportation: the cruise speed of 80-90 mph and the flight time of 2 hours can make a nice long trip far away of the city.
SparrowHawk II
Here is a rotorcraft that you don't need to build yourself: SparrowHawk II is a ready to fly autogyro sold for $39,500. Cruise speed - 70 knots, fuel consumption - 6 gallons per hour. The same company also sells ultralight trikes - that's useful if you are looking for more economical option.
Skylark Homebuilt Helicopter
If you'd rather build yourself, you may like this naked single-seater with cruise-speed 70 mph. The fuel consumption is not clear, but you can ask at Vortech site and also buy the building plans from it.
HBX-21 HELICOPTER
This is one of the two-seater helicopters and is faster than all the others reviewed here - 150 mph cruise speed. You can find all the info on Stan Ostrowski site.
Am I missing a cool rotorcraft? Let me know!
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User comments:
Dennis Dyer at May, 15 '10 08:00
innovator.mosquito.net.nz/mbbs2/index.asp with training only 26,000 and they are amazing to see fly.
Don legally at Dec, 26 '11 15:31
Check out the cavalon & caldius
Ron Tomlinson at Mar, 27 '15 23:59
Quadracopter hoverbikes are getting close to market. A home builder could probably make a VTOL-and add folding wings. They might have to do until gravitics become more controllable, less expensive, and available to civilians.
nice at Nov, 02 '19 05:14
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