The Airscooter: a helicopter for the home [Gizmo]

No need for a pilots licence. Easy to fly. Operates at below 50 feet. The best toy I have seen in years…

THE AIRSCOOTER!!

AirScooter II is an ultralight helicopter with intuitive design for incredible control and manoeuvrability that looks set to take personal recreational airborne vehicles to new heights….

The coaxial design means having two blades mounted on the same axis rotating in opposite directions to each other. The benefits of counter-rotating propellers and rotors are that they can produce up to 30% more force or thrust then the regular ones, driven by the same engine. However, the main problem concerning effective lightweight coaxial rotorcraft has been weight. According to a spokesperson for AirScooter Corporation, “the AirScooter has overcome this obstacle by using superior design elements and space-age composite materials”.

…One of the main selling points of the AirScooter II is that it is classed as a “Part 103 ultralight”, meeting the requirements for an ultralight vehicle according to US Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103. This means that an FAA pilot’s certificate is not required to pilot the AirScooter II. Also being an extremely light aircraft (as compared to non-recreational helicopters) is also a definite benefit to the craft’s manoeuvrability and stability while hovering and during flight. According to AirScooter Corporation, “with practice a recreational pilot can quickly become confident with the controls and perform basic flight manoeuvres.”

Unfortunately for me these things normally need one to weigh about 75kgs and I am about 80kg at my absolute lifetime thinnest. They will also cost over $50,000.

Still, I can see myself skimming over the Lake District or similar spots in my flying machine. Come on science, give us a the speedy , safe, quite and fuel efficient flying device we all crave!

Tagged as: Aviation