Comments on: One-Man Helicopters Give Soldiers Wings (Mar, 1940)

By: KHarn

KHarn — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:45:13 +0000

I can’t stop thinking of this as a “Far Side” comic with the caption “It was then that Bob realized that he hadn’t mailed his last insureance payment”!

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:23:45 +0000

It’s not as compact as what they describe, but it looks like the general idea is plausible: http://www.ultralightflyer.com/genH4/index.htm

By: Repack Rider

Repack Rider — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:46:44 +0000

What sort of “sportsman” would be using one of those?

By: Eliyahu

Eliyahu — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:42:36 +0000

A sniper’s dream… slow-moving aerial targets that aren’t in a position to shoot back…

By: jayessell

jayessell — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:10:15 +0000

Bob, the cover illustration shows landing/takeoff legs and what could be a fuel tank over the ‘pilot’.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:34:02 +0000

Where is the gas tank?

By: JeffConn

JeffConn — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:15:20 +0000

So what happens when the user hits the ground? That apparatus lands on top of him? *yikes* OR what if the user, still strapped in, leans forward to put the apparatus on the ground and the propellors haven’t completed stopped rotating? This one could get UGLY!

By: jayessell

jayessell — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:13:38 +0000

I’m wondering how you would:
Start
Launch
Steer
Land
Stop

By: Blurgle

Blurgle — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:22:18 +0000

Has anyone ever perfected this? Because whoa…

Although I’m not sure about the “lightweight gasoline engine” part. Running out of gas is an inconvenience these days, but running out of gas at 800 AGL…