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One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

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Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#21

Post by thangalin »

dang wrote: post #15
tantalor wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1954

How do you know that?

The DH-4 was made in 1954, followed by the HZ-1 in 1956. The video shows N64N in the video, but the N64N-1 didn't have water applications.

Sources:

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1140732

> It is the only surviving HZ-1. The prototype, designated DH-4 ...

https://transportation.army.mil/museum/coldwar/index.html

> The HZ-1 was tested at Fort Eustis in 1956.

https://archive.org/stream/ArmedForcesFilms1956/ArmedForcesF...

> IESM-543 . Released July 1956 ... The Aerocycle is an experimental one man flying machine.

http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/lockner_helicovector...

> DH-4 first flew in January 1955.

https://asc.army.mil/docs/magazine2/armyalt-oct-dec-15.pdf

> In 1954, he proposed that if the rotors of a helicopter were on the bottom, a pilot could use his own weight to steer the vehicle using kinesthetic control, similar to riding a bicycle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Lackner_HZ-1_Aerocycle

> First flight 22 November 1954

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyBHM1vZLzc

> The De Lackner DH-4 "Aerocycle", later renamed the HZ-1 Aerocycle

Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#22

Post by mrow84 »

interroboink wrote: post #7

More information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Lackner_HZ-1_Aerocycle Originally developed by the US Army for reconnaissance.

From the “see also” on that page, this looks pretty incredible (to my untrained eye): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_X-Jet

Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#24

Post by monkeycantype »

A friend of mine (miles van dorssen) built one of these and flew it in the park. I’d possibly been a little dubious until he found the old 80s handicam he filmed on, and I got to watch the tape through the viewfinder. In that tiny window I saw miles in a bike helmet hovering two feet in the on a violently shaking lawnmower quadcopter. I don’t know how google able miles is but he builds great things

Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#25

Post by KentGeek »

cdiamand wrote: post #4

My palms are sweating after watching that. Risk incarnate. That being said, I wish modern news and video had more of the magic from this time period when it comes to composition. Love the music and the narrative voice.

The music was originally created for the Paramount Superman cartoons of the 40s. https://youtu.be/_djxH-q0e48

Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#28

Post by djmips »

echelon wrote: post #3

Imagine losing your balance and falling off. With guard rails and fully enclosed rotor blades, it might've worked. I can't think of anywhere to deploy it where it would have advantages over other modes of transportation. Desert, coastlines, ... but then what for? Landmine detection? It's also really loud, so no public or residential deployment. And even if it had been hardened and dummy proofed, disruption of the bla…

There was a ducted fan version of this type of craft, a little more famous. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_VZ-1_Pawnee

Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#29

Post by evgen »

djmips wrote: post #28
echelon wrote: post #3

Imagine losing your balance and falling off. With guard rails and fully enclosed rotor blades, it might've worked. I can't think of anywhere to deploy it where it would have advantages over other modes of transportation. Desert, coastlines, ... but then what for? Landmine detection? It's also really loud, so no public or residential deployment. And even if it had been hardened and dummy proofed, disruption of the bla…

There was a ducted fan version of this type of craft, a little more famous. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_VZ-1_Pawnee

The Hiller flying platform is a rather cool gadget and Bay-area folks can see one at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos. With all of the wacky vehicles people have made using jumped-up quadcopter designs or small jet engines I am really surprised no one has tried to make a new version of this aircraft.

Re: One-Man Amphibious 'Copter' [video] (1955)

#30

Post by djmips »

evgen wrote: post #29
djmips wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was a ducted fan version of this type of craft, a little more famous. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_VZ-1_Pawnee

The Hiller flying platform is a rather cool gadget and Bay-area folks can see one at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos. With all of the wacky vehicles people have made using jumped-up quadcopter designs or small jet engines I am really surprised no one has tried to make a new version of this aircraft.

Cool. I used to live near there but for some reason never knew about that Museum. I'll have to watch this video for now but I'll get over there some day again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhX_YJEkpOo

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