Libelula rocket-powered helicopter backpack redefines danger
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 2nd 2008 12:37PM
posted May 2nd 2008 12:37PM
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]
[Via Tech Digest]
Oh... forget my last post. I understand what they did here.
There is no engine here producing torque in the centerline - it is a jet impulse only at the tips. Therefore, it produces no torque.
My question is, how hard would a landing in this thing be on my knees?
Unless you have a zero-friction interface (not likely) then the passenger will tend to spin in the direction of the rotors. Maybe you could put counter-thrust rockets on your shoes?
Not true, if the power comes from the rockets on the edge of the blades and not a shaft connected to the main body there should be no torque effect to spin the pilot.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's......
A flying beaner!
easy target
He's wearing all red too hide all bloody mess when his arm gets chopped off.
Just don't wave to mom.
These are old news... Gluhareff made these a long time ago.
http://www.tipjet.com/
So where is counter-torque force against the rotating blades?
Tail wing and forward motion combined with the jets on the tips means no torque from the engine and moving forward should be enough to counter any friction
Someone's already made a coaxial helicopter backpack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPA2k3qPe-4
Man Heli-One: "Tower, this is Man Heli One over".
Tower: Go Ahead Man-Heli One".
Yeah tower, uh, well, OK, so far I'm going up, up, up, up and uh-oh, seems to be....yes definately shutting down, I hear and feel sputtering about 100ft up, OK, whew, now I'm coming down, down, down OH S##T!! down REALLY FAST, SPINNG OUT OF CONTROL, and FASTER, GRAVITY!!!, I repeat GRAVITY!!!, no fuel left!! still spinning, and metal coming at my neck, and ohhh...pulling Chute, oh crap, no chute!!! OH SH$T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No WAY IN HELL I'm strapping on that deathtrap!! LMAO
Faslane
Where's the tail rotor? I'd prefer not to spin around as well, I'd get pretty sick.
It has no torque from an engine because it uses the engines on the tips. The forward motion and the tail on it would be enough to keep the copter from rotating. You do not need to have the tail rotor.
"Oh shit... where'd my hands go?"
Ah, but does it BLEND?
I guess the first person to try this thing will find out, eh?
Can't wait to see this epic failure in real world action. Jeez. Let's strap some unwanted humans to THIS device.
Notice that this is a rendering because no one would be stupid enough to actually get on one of these flying guillotines, even if they aimed this thing across the border.
I'm always surprised at how novel people think this sort of thing is. They had this technology since WWII... See http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/baumgartl_heliofly-1.php
This is head and shoulders over ..Texas...New Mexico...if your lucky maybe Colorado.
They should just stick a tail rotor support up his behind and that would stop him from counter-rotating.
I believe this is a leaked promotional shot from the upcoming movie, 'Bleed Racer'...
This is a 'rendering' on so many levels!