Feedback Form
   
Add to Google
GEN H-4 – Personal Helicopter GEN H-4 – Personal Helicopter
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - Noa Rotkop
Home >> Picture Of The Day >> Transportation
  Peralink
GEN H-4 – Personal Helicopter
Related Pictures
Segway and GM Unveil PUMA
Toyota Plans 1/X Seaweed Car
GEN H-4 is the world's smallest co-axial helicopter. This ultra-light aircraft weighs only 155 lbs (70kg) when empty, and is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 55 mph (88 km/h). The GEN H-4 is powered by four twin cylinder engines feeding into a central transmission, with two sets of rotors turning in opposite directions. The GEN H-4 can sustain flight even if one of the engines malfunctions, as the remaining three engines are strong enough. This one-man helicopter was designed by the President of Engineering System Co. Japan, Mr. Gennai Yanagisawa. It is currently being manufactured and sold in a kit form in Japan, for a price of approximately $30,000 per kit.

The GEN H-4 was first flown in 1998, and reportedly is quite easy to operate. The pilot controls the helicopter's rise and descent by pushing the throttle lever. One can choose to fly in a certain direction by simply pulling or moving the control bar in the opposite direction. In order to turn to the right or to the left, one has to push the yaw-control-switch.

The frame of the GEN H-4 is made of two-inch aluminum pipes. Located in front of the pilot is the control pod with the throttle, tachometer, main switch, starter switch and yaw switch. Four GEN125 engines power this helicopter. Each is a 10hp, 125cc, two stroke, two horizontally opposing cylinders, air cooled electric start engine, equipped with independent ignition, carburetors, starter switch and centrifugal clutches. Each of the four engines is connected to the transmission through a centrifugal clutch so that if one of the engines stops working, it is overridden by the other three engines and the flight continues.

The lightweight transmission consists of cast aluminum upper and lower cases with a total of 27 precision ground, with heat-treated gears sandwiched in between.Two rotors travel in opposite directions, keeping the helicopter stable by counteracting each other's torque, so that there is no need for a tail rotor. Yaw is controlled through a differential gear within the transmission, driven by an electric motor. The fuel type required is a 30:1 mixture of automobile gasoline and two stroke oil.

To insure safety, a ballistic parachute is provided above the mast. In addition, it is possible to perform a safe emergency landing on two engines. Plans for future developments include installing an automatic altitude controller, adding under seat air bags, and designing the one-man helicopter in such a way that will enable folding it, making it easier to carry from one place to another.

TFOT recently covered several other innovative aircrafts, including the Individual Lifting Vehicle (ILV) concept that is being developed as a kit in the United States, the Gyrocopter – a new flying motorcycle currently under development by the Dutch company PAL-V, and Moller's M400 Skycar - a concept vehicle that can execute vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) like a helicopter, fly like an airplane and drive for short distances on the ground like a car.

More information about the GEN H-4 can be found on the company's website.

 


Other Articles The Future of Electronic Paper The Future of Electronic Paper Mind Controlled Bionic Limbs Mind Controlled Bionic Limbs

Related News Biofuel Powers Jetliner Biofuel Powers Jetliner Cars that Talk Cars that Talk

Other Columns Igloo White: the Automated Battlefield Igloo White: the Automated Battlefield Orffyreus and Leibniz - Part 2 Orffyreus and Leibniz - Part 2



Comments & Replies (5)
gen h4 helicopter   (03/04/09 - 14:01 - by lee baty)
this seams like a stable helicopter that would work well, i personally
believe in the design. There is a comment i want to say and that it
is still an unstable helicopter in low and high wind applications, a
way to counter act this inheirant problem is to counter weight, the
weight of the engin's below the rider, also an additional 15 to 20 hp
will help stabilize against wind. When the helicopter is in flight to
keep the roll over effect down to a minimum, use a dart like tail fin
(4 fins in a cross shape) and extend it 4 to 6 feet behind the machine
with a positive nose up pitch approx 2 degrees. this will help in
down draft roll over and stabilize forward flight. ps note any
machine that are airborne will low power as this one, it wont have to
power to climb out of problems with wind
gen h4 helicopter- by lee baty   (05/13/09 - 17:05 - by snoopy)
Imagine the effect of a tail pitch stabilator influenced by the rotor
downdraft. Great show!
cool!   (07/03/09 - 7:04 - by T)
mm.. contact me at patrick_3323_01@hotmail.com if there any sale, i
luv 'em
Contact   (08/05/09 - 2:32 - by Ibrahim NAYIR)
Please the manufacturer contact me: inayir@gmail.com
NONE   (08/19/09 - 18:48 - by xxx)
i hate these chemical solutions. if only they could use plasma
thrusters
but it requires electromagnetic field and high voltage electric field.

Add a New Comment
Your name:   0/20
Subject:  0/30
Your Comment:  0/999
Type the following letters: Visual CAPTCHA
Please keep your comments related to the above item's topic. TFOT reserves the right to delete any unrelated comment without notice.

Picture Of The Day
Microsoft Arc Notebook Mouse
Microsoft Arc Notebook Mouse

Video
Nostalgia: The Atari Wallet
Nostalgia: The Atari Wallet

Site Of The Week
Galaxy Zoo
Galaxy Zoo

Personal Column
Detroit’s Dream of Aircraft Production
Dr. Daniel Uziel
Detroit’s Dream of Aircraft Production
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Site Profile
Copyright © 2007 The Future of Things. All rights reserved.