A Human-Powered Helicopter

[Avion8]

I didn't know whether to place this under pedal power or flight, but decided on flight as it is an amazing achievement.

Finally! A Human-Powered Helicopter Wins the $250,000 Sikorsky Prize - Popular Mechanics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/diy-flying/finally-a-human-powered-helicopter-wins-the-250000-sikorsky-prize-15682369)

Cheers Nigel

[goingbush]

Amazing,

he should pit it in the Moomba birdman rally and win an extra 10 grand

[Homestar]

Amazing,

he should pit it in the Moomba birdman rally and win an extra 10 grand

Not quite sure he would fi that on the ramp...:D. It didn't seem to be able to actually go anywhere either apart from up and down, but a very cool bit of kit.:)

[101RRS]

It didn't seem to be able to actually go anywhere either apart from up and down, but a very cool bit of kit.:)

Did you read the text in the link - their competitors were ahead on height and time but had no control to keep it in the 10m circle - this one had controls which allowed it to stay in the circle so while not obvious it can also move sideways under control.

The pilot looked more like a rugby player rather than a cyclist so power to weight of the propulsion unit could have been better but nevertheless they did it.

Garry

[Homestar]

Did you read the text in the link

No:angel:, I'm not big on reading when someone has gone to all the trouble of making a video...:D

[stallie]

The $250K prize had been awaiting collection for many years apparently.

Not sure it would be that good at mustering cattle though...:wasntme:

[goingbush]

Wonder what other prizes are waiting out there to be claimed.
The $25,000 prize for writing a mac virus has been cancelled

I won a US$250 Magazine prize for the first ever RC plane to be built from Aluminium cans, Rules were it had to be Mostly built from cans, second was they had to have a video of it flying at least 100yds.

I dont think the yanks expected a fully aerobatic fun fly from Au to take out the $$. This was the video I sent them. (@ Dixons Creek)

Worlds First RC Coke Can Plane - YouTube

[Avion8]

Fantastic coke can airplane. Maybe there should be a prize for the first coke can helio!

Yep, probably no good for mustering, an S76D would be my preferred choice.

[joel0407]

Google gave away a few Million $$ for a robot landing on the moon with videofeed. During a discussion with a few mates, we decided it wouldn't be too hardbut we were past the closing date. Once you get past earth’s gravity, the moonswill pull you in so you don’t really need an exact hit, just close. Thenlanding was a problem without an atmosphere you can’t use a parachute. As radiotransmission is vertical to the earth there isn’t too much trouble with thetransmission distance. I have a mate who cooks his own rocket fuel so there’sno drama there either.

Check it out. http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/ (http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/)

I think it funny how NASA and these big dollar organisations fail becausethey overthink stuff. There was a video going around of a massive research balloonthat fell over and took out a couple of vehicles on launch near the center ofAustralia. About the same time a couple of guys and there kids launched ago-pro in a foam box with a iPhone that was sending GPS locations to anotherphone was launched with a small weather balloon. They did the same thing for acouple of dollars what NASA failed to do with millions.

Happy Days.

[joel0407]

NASA balloon crash

Huge NASA Science Balloon Crashes in Australian - YouTube

[101RRS]

The worst thing about that was that a Disco 1 got wiped out.:o