Why Can’t We Create A Human-Powered Helicopter Already?


The concept of a human-powered helicopter is surprisingly simple. The creation of a human-powered helicopter? Not so simple. People have been trying for 30 years to create a human-powered helicopter that can hover for 60 seconds, reach a height of 3 metres and stay inside a 10-metre box and no one has ever done it yet.

NPR took a look at the students who are trying to build the helicopter and win the Sikorsky Prize, which promises $US250,000 to the group who does it.

Check out the video above and you’ll see the precocious kids who build these helicopters. Some of them work for years or fail 20 times or can only get off the ground for 4 seconds or reach a height of a couple feet, yet they still keep working at it. Watch the video above to see the groups’ impressive work ethic. [NPR via Kottke]


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