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

#1

Post by killittosaveit » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 3:56 PM UTC

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

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

#2

Post by dangerboysteve » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 6:51 PM UTC

That is the equivalent of flying a food processor.

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

#3

Post by echelon » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:03 PM UTC

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 blades would not have had many safe failure modes.

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

#4

Post by cdiamand » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:05 PM UTC

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.

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

#5

Post by _joel » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:20 PM UTC

I wonder why it never caught on?

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

#6

Post by robofanatic » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:21 PM UTC

I'd call it Flying Segway

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

#7

Post by interroboink » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:35 PM UTC

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

Originally developed by the US Army for reconnaissance.

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

#8

Post by marginalia_nu » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:36 PM UTC

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…

> Imagine losing your balance and falling off.

He seems to be fastened both at the feet and at the hip with some sort of wire, so I don't think he actually can fall off. But still.

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

#9

Post by jcun4128 » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:45 PM UTC

_joel wrote: post #5

I wonder why it never caught on?

People like their legs

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

#10

Post by jcun4128 » Wed, Feb 02, 2022, 7:46 PM UTC

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…

Sensor that detects something about hit the rotors, detaches the blades via explosive bolts, takes out not one person but more.