Helicopters for Everybody. From Leenks.com

[Karl]

Helicopters for Everybody (Jan, 1951)

 

The Hoppicopter is evolving into a comfortably single-seat helicopter that will supply you with cheap air transportation.

By Frank Tinsley

 

BACK in the 30’s, a Seattle aeronautical engineer named Horace T. Pentecost became convinced that he could design a set of personal wings. As an engineer and student of aviation history, Pentecost was well aware of the shortcomings of man-made flapping wings, so he gave the problem an entirely different solution. In place of rosy pinions, he substituted the whirling blades of the modern helicopter. His first machine, designed for army paratroopers, was intended to supplant the clumsy and uncontrollable parachute. Strapped to the wearer’s back, it was christened “Hoppicopter” because the trooper literally hopped off and landed on his own two feet. It consisted of little more than an engine, rotors and control stick, mounted on a tubular frame that was strapped over the flier’s shoulders and back.

The Hoppicopter’s dependence upon human legs as landing gear proved its ultimate undoing. Landing on rough terrain, the wearers frequently stumbled and fell, smashing the whirling vanes against the ground. This was not only embarrassing but expensive.

 

[crashed_05]

Cool. Didn't Frank Robinson also have an idea of everyone being able to have their own personal helicopter that they could take to work, grocery shopping, etc. when he came up with the R-22?

[Dragbrace]

Helicopters for Everybody (Jan, 1951)

 

The Hoppicopter is evolving into a comfortably single-seat helicopter that will supply you with cheap air transportation.

By Frank Tinsley

 

BACK in the 30’s, a Seattle aeronautical engineer named Horace T. Pentecost became convinced that he could design a set of personal wings. As an engineer and student of aviation history, Pentecost was well aware of the shortcomings of man-made flapping wings, so he gave the problem an entirely different solution. In place of rosy pinions, he substituted the whirling blades of the modern helicopter. His first machine, designed for army paratroopers, was intended to supplant the clumsy and uncontrollable parachute. Strapped to the wearer’s back, it was christened “Hoppicopter” because the trooper literally hopped off and landed on his own two feet. It consisted of little more than an engine, rotors and control stick, mounted on a tubular frame that was strapped over the flier’s shoulders and back.

The Hoppicopter’s dependence upon human legs as landing gear proved its ultimate undoing. Landing on rough terrain, the wearers frequently stumbled and fell, smashing the whirling vanes against the ground. This was not only embarrassing but expensive.

 

[edspilot]

What, you mean I'm not suppose to use my R22 as a daily commuter?

 

What I am I going to do tomorrow, drive, in traffic?

 

 

edspilot

[Auto-Rotation-Nation]

Cool. Didn't Frank Robinson also have an idea of everyone being able to have their own personal helicopter that they could take to work, grocery shopping, etc. when he came up with the R-22?

 

Ya I think your right, I've heard the same thing several times but I have always assumed that his idea will never really take-off (no-pun please) because his R22's, small as they may be are still true helo's and if you look at any illistration of the futuristic style personal choppers they all are missing the same key factor... a TAIL ROTOR.

I love the 22's don't get me wrong but I find it very hard to parallel park with a 12ft tail boom.

[Tarantula]

Much like in that picture, I would expect any commuter type heli to be a coaxial type system, like the Ka-50 is. Or a system like http://www.tecaeromex.com/ingles/RH-i.htm where it has very low torque and a resulting very short tailboom.

[ADRidge]

Much like in that picture, I would expect any commuter type heli to be a coaxial type system, like the Ka-50 is. Or a system like http://www.tecaeromex.com/ingles/RH-i.htm where it has very low torque and a resulting very short tailboom.

 

Okay, I'm very intrigued. But you know, I watched the video of the h202 test flight and I had to laugh a little bit. It just sounds so strange!

[Wally]

Atlanta has some of the worst drivers I've ever seen, and rush hours are a horror show, miles long parking lots in place of interstates. It would be just freakin' perfect to have a bunch of cell phone talking and texting, road rage idiots in the sky with me, next door to the busiest airport in the world.

It's bad enough that I have to occasionally go to the airports that the doctor/lawyer/talk-show host occupied cruise missiles use...

Edited December 16, 2010 by Wally

[Dragbrace]

My father, Kermit Jones along with Maurice Ramme were the test pilots for the Hoppi-Copter in late 1947 early 1948. Two prototypes were built and flown. They were a coaxial design and were originally powered by drone engines. The machines were featured in the June 1948 edition ot American Helicopter Magazine. My dad was pictured on the cover hovering the craft at Bow Lake airfield (now Sea-Tac).

The company failed in the early fifties due to lack of capitol. To my knowledge no production machines were ever built or certified. Maurice Ramme went on and formed Monte-Copters which was a design using compressed air and exhuast gasses vented out the blade tips. The last I heard his prototype was at the Museam of Flight on Boeing Field in Seattle.

[Karl]

Atlanta has some of the worst drivers I've ever seen, and rush hours are a horror show, miles long parking lots in place of interstates. It would be just freakin' perfect to have a bunch of cell phone talking and texting, road rage idiots in the sky with me, next door to the busiest airport in the world.

It's bad enough that I have to occasionally go to the airports that the doctor/lawyer/talk-show host occupied cruise missiles use...

It's simple just give everyone a chopper at the same time and move to the country for several weeks. It would all be sorted out by then.