- LONDON - It looks like something from a James Bond movie but its makers
hope this new one-man helicopter will help in the everyday battle against
the rush hour.
-
- Instead of sitting in traffic or cramming
into a crowded train, you can strap on the helicopter and take to the skies.
It is expected to sell at about £20,000 ($33,000) when it is launched
in August.
-
- Its manufacturer, Engineering System
of Nagano, Japan, is looking for distributors to sell the machine around
the world. It will arrive at a customer's house in kit form and take about
40 hours to assemble.
-
- The GEN-H4 flew for the first time in
public at the end of last year and is undergoing rigorous testing before
its launch. The first users are expected to be flying enthusiasts who are
keen to have vertical take-off and landing without the cost of a full-size
helicopter.
-
- With a pilot weighing 70 kg (154 lbs)
" the same weight as the helicopter " the machine can remain
airborne for up to five hours and, according to estimates, could reach
10,000 ft. Its top speed is 60 mph.
-
- The user tilts a bar in front of him
to direct the GEN-H4 left and right. Separate levers positioned next to
each hand control the yaw and altitude.
-
- The machine does not need a tail rotor
to keep it stable because its two overhead rotors turn in opposite directions.
-
- For safety the helicopter is powered
by four separate 125cc petrol engines. It only needs two of these to land
safely. If the worst happens, and three of the engines fail, production
versions of the craft will have a parachute to fall back on. This could
be deployed at the touch of a button and float man and machine to the ground.
-
- Engineering System is also working on
a version that can fold down and fit in the boot of a car. The aluminum
frame will be hinged to make this possible. If successful, it would allow
flying enthusiasts without landing facilities to drive to a field, unfold
the helicopter and take to the sky.
|
