Human-powered helicopter record
July 2, 2012 by Tim McAdamsIn 1980 the American Helicopter Society offered a $250,000 prize for the first human powered helicopter. Known as the Sikorsky Prize, it was named in honor of the late helicopter pioneer Igor Sikorsky. To win the prize, the aircraft must reach a height of three meters and remain airborne for 60 seconds while staying in a 10 meter square.
Although some attempts have been made, so far 32 years later the prize has not been won. The first helicopter to try to win the contest was the Da Vinci III in 1989, designed and built by students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California. It flew for 7.1 seconds and reached a height of 8 inches (20 cm). The second was the Yuri I in 1994, designed and built by students at Nihon University in Japan. It flew for 19.46 seconds and reached an altitude of 20 cm.
On June 21, 2012 a team of engineering students from the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering have gotten the closest to wining the prize and achieved an unofficial world record of 50 seconds with their Gamera II human-powered helicopter, far surpassing any previous records. It will not become official until validated by the National Aeronautic Association. The pilot was Kyle Gluesenkamp, a Ph.D candidate at the school’s mechanical engineering department.
The first version (the Gamera I) stayed airborne for 11.4 seconds. The aircraft was re-engineered with improved airfoils and a new structural design that reduced weight by 39 percent. As with the previous version, the pilot produced power by pedaling. However, the Gamera II has hand cranks that can increase power output by as much as 20 percent. However, due to additional exertion required by the pilot, the output gains drop off after about 60 seconds. The Gamera II is about 105 feet from tip to tip and weighs about 75 pounds without a pilot.
July 2nd, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Unless I’m misunderstanding, Gamera II would not appear to even be qualified for the Sikorsky because it’s 105′ x 105′ dimensions would be impossible to maintain within a “10 meter square.”
July 2nd, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I don’t think the craft needs to *fit* within a 10 meter square. It just can’t move outside of a 10 meter square….more than approx 15′ in any direction from it’s starting point
July 6th, 2012 at 5:33 am
Alan, you are correct. The vertical axis of the center-most point of the aircraft must stay within the specified boundaries.
July 6th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Implausible human factor Vs weight and wind might work inside a large hanger.
July 8th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
How about this, if not prohibited. Using an aircraft like the one here, Incorporate a methodology of storing ,call it the primary energy generated by the human ,before take off .( eg like a flywheel of sorts. ) then when the appropriate amount of primary energy is stored , it can be used along with ,say, the additional human generated, call it the secondary, energy( via peddles etc). This secondary human generated energy would begin feeding energy into the aircraft and that energy along with the stored primary energy could be used to keep the aircraft up for the duration needed to accomplish the feat for the prize.
July 11th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I think they should install rubber bands that are wrapped by the human power plant. They could then be released. Technically the bands gain their energy through human power and could be supplemented by additional pedaling power. I says this without a reference to the rules.
July 19th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Not that I’m one to talk but it sounds like they need a bunch of super in shape individuals that can take that kind of exertion for 60 seconds. I’m always impressed with our younger generations skill set and ability to adapt.