Libelula rocket-powered helicopter backpack redefines danger

Sure, you can get yourself a personal helicopter or, if you're particularly daring, a jet pack, but what about those that crave yet more danger in short 30-second bursts? As in, rocket-propelled helicopter blades a few inches from your head-type danger. Thankfully, the folks at Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (makes of some of the aforementioned jet packs) have come to the rescue (so to speak), with their latest high-flying concept, the Libelula rocket-powered helicopter backpack. Apparently, the rockets on the tips of the blades are necessary to keep the whole rig counter-balanced, a job that would normally be done with a tail rotor on an ordinary helicopter. Of course, as you can no doubt surmise by the detailed illustration above, this one's still a ways away from getting its first test flight, but the folks at TAM do have a proven track record, so we wouldn't put it completely past 'em to get it off the drawing board sooner or later.

[Via Tech Digest]

[Mike @ May 2nd 2008 12:45PM]

"Aeroespacial Mexicana"? - Ok, if we thought a chevy truck full of Mexicans were hard to stop, can you imagine how much harder it will be to stop these things from flying across the border and landing at the Home Depot?

[Goo @ May 2nd 2008 1:10PM]

Maybe it will be easier to spot. Since we are also going see full of Mexicans holding on one of these to get most out from one flight.

[Vic20 @ May 2nd 2008 1:13PM]

Anyone else having flashbacks of those Icarus things in Quake II?

Man, I hated those things... until the Railgun.

[Podaman @ May 2nd 2008 1:31PM]

@Vic20

oh snap a quake 2 reference. gotta give props for that. i think about 6 people actually played through the single player campaign...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/Quake2a.jpg

[Vic20 @ May 2nd 2008 1:47PM]

Podaman,

Word. Sweet screenshot.

See that Tank in the background? He's got Border Patrol written all over him.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ May 4th 2008 2:03AM]

It wouldn't be hard to stop if the border patrol were equipped with Bofors 40mm or truck mounted M55 Quad .50.

[Podaman @ May 2nd 2008 12:46PM]

Go-Go-Gadget...

[frankXchange @ May 2nd 2008 1:06PM]

Exactly. Plus the first guy to fly that thing will likely end up with as many artificial parts as Inspector Gadget.

[Darkroom @ May 2nd 2008 2:34PM]

bitch be need'n some new go-go-gadget-arms if he raises them while flying that thing.

[Osiris @ May 2nd 2008 11:14PM]

Maybe the should just encase the rotorblades with a lightweight cage ala conventional fans designed for hot summers..

[moo083 @ May 2nd 2008 12:50PM]

Well, just be careful not to raise your arms above your head if you yawn.....

[Nando @ May 2nd 2008 1:19PM]

I was just thinking that.

This should come with a seat and a roof to protect your arms... Hell, just get your ass in a helicopter!

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ May 2nd 2008 2:49PM]

Comments like these make me long for the good ol' days of Highest Ranked.

[phanbouy @ May 2nd 2008 12:53PM]

Si, si! Soy loco por los Cornballers!

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ May 6th 2008 6:16AM]

Haha, at least *I* got it.

[theidoctor.org @ May 2nd 2008 12:54PM]

yea.... good target practice for the guards i guess... anyways, i didnt know they had that kind of technology!

[Mile @ May 2nd 2008 12:57PM]

Price?

[spass @ May 2nd 2008 1:07PM]

Price of what? 3D modeling software?

[ethana2 @ May 2nd 2008 1:45PM]

www.blender.org

[peshue @ May 2nd 2008 12:58PM]

A midair decapitation would be an impressive way to go out I suppose.

[ethana2 @ May 2nd 2008 1:46PM]

*facepalm*
Idiocy is not impressive. Spectacular perhaps, but not impressive.

[Melvin @ May 2nd 2008 1:04PM]

wow that looks cool...

[SurKaz @ May 2nd 2008 1:08PM]

Rockets AND helicopters.. man, let's toss all of our ideas into one big machine..

[ethana2 @ May 2nd 2008 1:47PM]

Load 'em up with laser sharks gentlemen, and we've got us some overlords to welcome...

[SurKaz @ May 2nd 2008 1:54PM]

make them machines that can self replicate and made up of nanobots.. that will be truly indestructible.. or unable to put out of commission permanently

[LondonConsultant @ May 2nd 2008 6:55PM]

If you've already got rockets, why not just point them downwards!

Or could use rockets to turn a generator which drives a heater that produces steam that turns a turbine that...

[Chris McDowell @ May 2nd 2008 9:10PM]

Helicopters with jet engines on the blades are not anything new. I know Hiller Helicopter, one of the first helicopter manufacturers made some helicopters with jet engines on the tips They had some huge heavy lift helicopters and some little personal helicopters.

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/helicopters/q0141.shtml

[couchpundit @ May 2nd 2008 1:10PM]

I don't know about flying, but I bet you can mod it to make one helluva margarita machine!

Cinco de Fly-O!

[Dave @ May 2nd 2008 1:10PM]

Vic Morrow would most definitely not approve of this.

[couchpundit @ May 2nd 2008 1:12PM]

You get points for spot-on Dennis Miller-esque obscure yet apropos celebrity helicopter death reference.

[Wolfticket @ May 2nd 2008 1:15PM]

It's funny because, in spite of the harness, it still appears to lift you up by your head.
I reckon this might work.

[phanbouy @ May 2nd 2008 1:21PM]

if by work you mean hang someone to death then yeah

[Jordan @ May 2nd 2008 1:18PM]

This reminds me of Seinfelds act on helmets and the stupidity of mankind..

[Ken @ May 2nd 2008 1:21PM]

So where's the rudder action coming from? I just see this thing going up and spinning out of control.

[SurKaz @ May 2nd 2008 1:56PM]

I'm guessing some tilt control.. some how.. they couldn't have possibly NOT thought about that.. even for just a 3D design concept.

[SurKaz @ May 2nd 2008 1:56PM]

I'm guessing some tilt control.. some how.. they couldn't have possibly NOT thought about that.. even for just a 3D design concept.

[SurKaz @ May 2nd 2008 1:57PM]

ARGH! Double action Surkaz!.. Load once but fire twice?
sorry for that double comment.

[Brooks @ May 2nd 2008 2:08PM]

Yes, this is a machine for lifting your feet slightly off the ground, then spinning up your body, then setting your spinning body back down when the rotors lose lift. Seems like there have to be cheaper and easier ways to break an ankle.

[IndiaTech @ May 3rd 2008 7:54PM]

You Fart...

[BuckD @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

When operating, be careful not to raise your arms up too high.

[whatishalo? @ May 2nd 2008 1:27PM]

30 second burst? Just enough time to get into the air and...oh sh@#!

[Chris McDowell @ May 2nd 2008 9:21PM]

I think a pure jet pack is 30 seconds. This should have a longer flight time because the jets do no provide all of the lift. The wing of the blade is providing the lift which means your fuel efficiency goes way up.

[sip @ May 2nd 2008 1:31PM]

The dome over the guy's head looks like the most dangerous part... why not wear a normal helmet??

[glucoseboy @ May 2nd 2008 1:33PM]

Landings going to be a b***ch. If you fall over you're going to be in a world of hurt when the spinning rotor blades hit the ground and the back pack flips around

[David @ May 2nd 2008 2:20PM]

You missed how this works. No torque transfer between backpack and rotors, so that can't happen. The blades spin using small rocket engines at the tip of each.

[Mischa G @ May 2nd 2008 1:41PM]

Now if only we could power it with cow crap we'd really be onto something. I'm all about dangerous devices that serve no purpose, but not if they burn our precious gas!

[mg @ May 2nd 2008 1:43PM]

Yeah, nothing like cow power:
http://impatientsufferance.com/2008/04/22/you-can-run-a-business-on-that-crap-184/

[ethana2 @ May 2nd 2008 1:49PM]

I'M GOIN' FAST! I'M GOIN' FAST!
*sigh*

[SurKaz @ May 2nd 2008 1:58PM]

Well.. I beat the initial flights would a slow lift.. like 10 feet of the ground... then time to come back down..

[David Grant @ May 2nd 2008 1:55PM]

rockets or no rockets, if you spin the rotor one way your body will spin the other - no tail rotor and no counterrotating rotors means a very dizzy pilot