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Ok, "This is one of the
strangest things I've seen on the net today!" you are probably thinking to
yourself, but what is it you ask?
It's the
"GEN H-4."
The world's smallest co-axial helicopter ever made! (that actually flies)
This is
a Japanese designed and manufactured ultralight one-man helicopter. The
total empty weight of this helicopter is only 155 lbs.
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Yes, you're right it is a quite
interesting contraption!
It is true that there is not much to see on the outside. The frame is 2 inch
aluminum pipe bent and welded, with a fiberglass backpack and funny looking
wheels. The controls are direct, like many gyrocopters. In front of the pilot
attached to the control bar is the control panel with the throttle (altitude
control), tachometer, ignition power, starter and yaw switches. The tools
necessary for flight do not seem like much because they aren't. This is not only
the lightest helicopter in the world, but it is the easiest to fly!
If you look
closely at the power pack (on top of the air craft) you will find four
astonishingly small twin cylinder engines feeding into a central transmission
with two sets of rotors turning in opposite directions. Wow, you say? That's
nuts! Well, if you're still interested and would like to see one fly please
follow the links below and at the top of the page to learn more about this
amazing helicopter.
How it all
began (History of the development of the GEN H-4)
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