Flying while cycling

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  • #16695
    Max Glaskin

    OK – who fancies trying to beat the new world record for human powered helicopter flights? Yesterday the Gamera team at the University of Maryland flew their craft for 65 seconds. And in another flight the pilot pedalled hard enough to hover 8 ft off the ground.
    If we are quick and glue together a few carbon tubes and add a decent power train, we could match both achievements at the same time and claim the AHS Sikorsky Prize.
    C’mon – who’s gonna join me?
    😕

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • #697485
    0
    Max Glaskin

    The Sikorsky Prize has been
    The Sikorsky Prize has been on offer for a few decades but they recently raised its value which has prompted much more activity. The Maryland team is now on its second version of the Gamera – and got so close to the 60 second flight peaking at 3 metres. Then they crashed. And crashed again. At least it gives Toronto’s AeroVelo a chance to steal the prize.

    #697483
    0
    cborrman

    i seem to remember they have
    i seem to remember they have been trying to get this for about 10 years… its taken them about two years just to get the same model from 5 seconds to 10 seconds to 30 seconds to now 65… #goodluck

    #697481
    0
    Max Glaskin

    Good point. Wonder how high
    Good point. Wonder how high the human powered helicopter would fly if the pilot used Armstrong’s methods?

    #697479
    0
    notfastenough

    Well current headlines
    Well current headlines suggest Lance Armstrong was high as a kite for 7 years straight, that’s got to be a record surely?! 👿

    #697477
    0
    Max Glaskin

    Oh yes, the YouTube videos of
    Oh yes, the YouTube videos of yesterday’s flights in Gamera II are astounding. Sure, the pilot has to use handcranks as well as pedals but with a decent chainset I reckon we could eliminate that excess weight 😉

    In fact I asked if they needed more pilots and they said they always want cyclists who are “power dense” but they they didn’t answer when I asked for specific figures.

    #697475
    0
    Gkam84

    Have you seen the thing?
    Here

    Have you seen the thing?

    Here is version one last year

    MASSIVE

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