Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece - Gizmodo Comments

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

hypereric — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:32:50 EDT

@Fzzt: I do have to wonder about the auto-rotation abilities of tip jet helicopters... seems the extra drag of the rockets on the end would negate alot of the free spinning of the blades.

hypereric

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

Fzzt — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:54:03 EDT

I've seen footage of all these types of rocketpacks, tip jet rotor packs from the 50's & 60's but none, even the Hiller Flying Platform's turned out not to be practical.

Best option for personal flight is a paraglider with backpack motor. At least when your motor quits you have a nicely inflated glider wing above your head.

Fzzt

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

Computer_Chef — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:20:09 EDT

@6street: I know how it might work, but you'll have to do a lot more than reducing the bulk of the torque to "eliminate" measures necessary to combat counter-rotation of the pilot. If you can't zero it out completely, you have to state what mechanism is used, not just pretend that putting the power on the blades solves the problem.

As noted in the site you link to, the wash of the main rotor could be used, and the first picture even looks like the fin in back might be a control surface, but it isn't obvious that it's big enough to fully solve the torque problem without specific mention that it was engineered to do exactly that. Another factor is that the pilot changes their center of gravity to move forward, which should give them a slight slope of stability but, again, it isn't obvious that it would be enough nor would it be available when hovering.

In short, the torque remains a problem and, if anything, that would have been the more interesting detail to cover than the handwaving stupidity of saying that rockets on the tips solve the problem completely.

Computer_Chef

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

ps61318 — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:37:49 EDT

@Computer_Chef: Where would we be without you? If it weren't for your willingness to climb out on a limb and begin sawing behind you, one of us might get stuck doing it.

@6street: Great reference. Really describes the science involved in a very readable way (for us easily-distracted types).

ps61318

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

blore40 — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:21:40 EDT

Hècho en México?

The Minutemen won't like it.

blore40

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

W3WEASEL — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:58:09 EDT

Will they be able to refine the form factor into a Beanie?

W3WEASEL

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

6street — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:31:29 EDT

@Computer_Chef: See [www.aerospaceweb.org] for info on how it works.
Since the motor is placed on the blades instead of in the body the bulk of the torque traditionally produced doesn't exsist since the motor isn't turning against the body to make the rotor spin.
I'll refrain from making any sarcastic comment about looking the physics up on the internet since i'm wrong sometimes :o).

6street

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

GeekyNerdGuy — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:29:39 EDT

I'm just too paranoid about getting decapitated.

GeekyNerdGuy

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

frigg — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:37:03 EDT

Also, as a logistical matter, until this approach to personalized air transportation is able to keep Mario Batali airborne throughout an entire episode of Molto Mario, I would expect the Food Network to direct their entire legal team to stymie the noble efforts of Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana. Ironic, really, given Mario Batali's consistent support of next generation individualized flight technologies.

frigg

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

DisposableInterloper — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:32:19 EDT

Go-Go-Gadget Copter!

DisposableInterloper

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

frigg — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:00:47 EDT

I'm less concerned with the physics of this, and more concerned with the logistics. If this starts shipping in bulk, I could imagine the skies will quickly fill up with millions of cats strapping these things on and flying around. Is that safe?

frigg

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

hypereric — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:51:54 EDT

"Tip Jet Helicopter" is what they are called. Here is a homemade version that reminds me of this prototype: [ww.rqriley.com]

If you search youTubewith those terms, you can find large military made ones with no tail.

How they work, I haven't a clue. H3ll, if I could get a model R/C (w/ tail rotor) to hover in one spot I'd be a happy camper.

hypereric

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

Computer_Chef — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:31:36 EDT

@Adrian Covert: Re-quoting stupidity doesn't make it right. You can't work for a geek site and expect to get away with mistakes like that. When someone corrects you, you should thank them and take the opportunity to actually look up the physics involved on this little thing we call the Internet. Both gmaxwell447 and ShinySideUp are right about the force of the rotors needing an equal an opposite reaction on the body. This is just another in a long line of bad concepts that Gizmodo keeps posting without the least bit of critical thought.

Computer_Chef

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

The Brain — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:09:18 EDT

I think I've seen this before.

The Brain

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

totolobo — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:38:34 EDT

Nice idea, too bad 55 years ago a belgium comic artist had a better design!

[en.wikipedia.org]

totolobo

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

thechansen — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:28:01 EDT

@che_leo: pfft its easier and safer to take the tunnels and drug subs into the United States. Or to fly to Canada and cross from there. All of which are cheaper options than the heli-jetpack.

thechansen

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

ps61318 — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:37:51 EDT

@jrghoull: ...and honestly, how is the latter different from the former? PAY ATTENTION, PEOPLE! They get what they deserve, not watching the sky for errant rocket-pack personal helicraft and all.

Back when I was a youth, it was the odd steam powered combine toolin' down mainstreet that ya had to watch out for; if ya didn't eat yer Wheaties, you'd likely BE the Wheaties, by gum.

ps61318

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

strider_mt2k — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:02:38 EDT

We will all have these in the year 2000.

strider_mt2k

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

jrghoull — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:01:54 EDT

this is going to sound off topic at first, but just bare with me

in the movie twenty eight weeks later, theres a scene where the helicopter pilot tilts the helicopter downward in such a way as to basically put the blade in front of the plane and proceeds to fly directly through a crowd of zombies...hacking them to pieces as he flies right though

now picture that, but with this, and with pedestrians, whom may or may not be walking around, minding their own business, and who dont realize whats going on until its too late.

jrghoull

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

illiniguy — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:57:48 EDT

It strikes me that it would be difficult to get a continuous flow of fuel from the tanks to the ends of the blades while they are spinning. Any joint that can spin and move liquid would seem too error prone to trust it to something that flammable.
Damn I am a sissy

illiniguy

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

moogoescow — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:49:46 EDT

Every time I scroll past the main photo without looking directly at it, my brain gets the impression its a picture of a fire extinguisher, stupid red jump suit.

moogoescow

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

hotgiz — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:00:30 EDT

I'm as ready for a jet pack as the next guy but do the blades have to be so close to my neck

hotgiz

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

malvones — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:58:05 EDT

great, so much for the border fence, then.

malvones

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

Gann — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:39:10 EDT

Sure this thing will be dangerous, but just think of how spectacular you would look as this thing took off like an oversized firework.

Gann

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

man in gauze is king ramses II, silly. — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:25:15 EDT

That'd be incredibly deafening, doncha think?

Not to mention dangerous, as others have pointed out.

man in gauze is king ramses II, silly.

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

carvelo — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:24:31 EDT

I have wanted this my whole life! Ya'll are pussies.

carvelo

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

Adrian Covert — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:24:22 EDT

@gmaxwell447: "rockets at the end of the blades negate the need for a tail rotor"

Adrian Covert

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

jackfrost132 — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:04:27 EDT

"It works! High five!!" *BZZT* "Gyaaaah"

jackfrost132

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

MagnoliaBoy — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:00:37 EDT

Sniff, Sniff,...Smells like Pentax Technology...I throw Chimerestry and turn it into a Deathcopter, doing 25 d20 flying damage. Good thing I have 5 dots, Horrid Reality.

MagnoliaBoy

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

ShinySideUp — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:58:51 EDT

Rpckets at the end of the tips or not, an anti torque rotor is still needed - unless you are entering a breakdance contest at 4000 feet up.

ShinySideUp

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:44:30 EDT

@scoobydoo: I can only imagine the scalping incidents that would arise.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

gmaxwell447 — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:43:52 EDT

Without some form of a tail rotor (or offset lateral thrust), how is the rotational torque negated to prevent the person from spinning as well? That flimsy little rudder won't do the job.

gmaxwell447

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

92BuickLeSabre — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:33:38 EDT

@scoobydoo:
2) Do not wave good-bye, as doing so may lead you to forget Rule 1).

92BuickLeSabre

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

Groggy Banana — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:10:48 EDT

People strapped to flammable equipment that is attached to spinning blades.

Why is this still a concept for the future?
Or was it just a scheme to resolve the growing population issue all along?

Groggy Banana

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

frigg — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:08:14 EDT

This is the sort of thing I could imagine would be very useful for helping a lost cat find its way home.

frigg

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

scoobydoo — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:07:57 EDT

Instruction manual:

1) Do not raise your hands above your head.

scoobydoo

Rocket-Powered Helicopter Pack is an Aerospace Masterpiece

takashimiike 3G edition — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:02:14 EDT

How much for a full tank of gas?

takashimiike 3G edition