permison Posted March 15, 2010 Report Share Posted March 15, 2010 http://dvice.com/archives/2010/03/dragonfly-perso.php Dragonfly personal rocket copter: available this year? Put small rocket engines on the tips of a helicopter rotor, and you have the makings of Dragonfly DF1, a rocket-powered helicopter that might be for sale sometime this year. Although it reminds us of some of those early Fail videos of flying machines, rocket copters are supposed to be surprisingly easy to fly, with less vibration and improved stability. Those hydrogen peroxide-powered rocket motors power this ultralight craft, and they're built by jetpack maker Tecaeromex. Thanks to the voluminous fuel tanks surrounding the pilot, the helicopter's non-burning hydrogen peroxide thrusters can power the craft for 50 minutes at 40mph. Will the Tucson-based company Swisscopters US get this baby off the ground? It's off to a good start, already completing test flights and obtaining airworthy certificates last November. Here's a video of this rocket copter in action: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gomer Pylot Posted March 15, 2010 Report Share Posted March 15, 2010 Nothing new, doesn't work well. Rocket engines at or near the speed of sound make a LOT of noise. They're also among the least fuel-efficient engines known to man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IjustWant2fly Posted March 15, 2010 Report Share Posted March 15, 2010 I agree with gomer pylot regarding its practicality, BUT the video did sort of provide an interesting look at the airflow around a helicopter's main rotor around the 0:43 second mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Guardian Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 Help! I've autorotated and I can't get up! With Life Alert help is on the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldy Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 Ok, so they built something that Hiller built and flew around 50 years ago, when he built his ramjet tip mounted helicopter. I watched it fly back about 4 years ago at the Hiller airshow. Other than being able to surround yourself with H2O2, (which is what the Germans used as rocket fuel for the V series rockets in WWII)...how exactly is this fun....or safe, or practical? Goldy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lelebebbel Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 It looks exactly like the Tipjet Hiller, right down to the bit where the pilot is sitting on a tank of pressurized rocketfuel, that is then set alight 10ft from his head, creating an amazing amount of smoke and noise. Something tells me that this is not the helicopter technology of the future. BUT the video did sort of provide an interesting look at the airflow around a helicopter's main rotor around the 0:43 second mark There is a video of the Hiller doing maneuvers and hovering, and it is the best visualization of airflow around the rotordisc I have seen (a lot more smoke than in the Dragonfly video).I saw it at a Bell safety presentation, but haven't been able to find it on the net anywhere. If anyone out there has a copy, please speak up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotorSpace Posted March 20, 2010 Report Share Posted March 20, 2010 Wonder what the price will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 A couple issues with that idea:Hydrogen peroxide at the concentration they're using is expensive.It's also corrosive, an oxidizer- Really nasty stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.R.O. Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 (edited) There is a video of the Hiller doing maneuvers and hovering, and it is the best visualization of airflow around the rotordisc I have seen (a lot more smoke than in the Dragonfly video).I saw it at a Bell safety presentation, but haven't been able to find it on the net anywhere. If anyone out there has a copy, please speak up! Yup, it's a great video, but a large file (96mb). I grabbed a copy from the Bell instructor, and have been showing it ever since. Drop me a line, and I'll get it to you. Edited March 22, 2010 by C.R.O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IFLY Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 If anyone wants a close up picture let me know, it is parked next to the heli I fly. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemv Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 Jerry, I know you fly everything, with engine or not, so why not this? How you are buddy? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gomer Pylot Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 The hydrogen peroxide they're using will kill you in a heartbeat if you handle it just a little bit wrong. It's far more expensive than either avgas or jetA, and the motors are highly inefficient, making even old jet engines look like miraculous misers. That thing ain't gonna fly for long, and I'd bet serious money it never goes commercial, and give pretty long odds on even selling one unit. It's a toy, not a usable machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IFLY Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 I think I will pass on this one...probably autos Ok but I don't want to find out. Adding on CFI plank next month since I don't have enough students to keep me flying enough.Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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