Homeade helo - China style! (link)

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

here

A DIYer from the Guangdong Province in eastern China has finally perfected his sub-$3000 home-built helicopter, taking it for a demonstration flight in what appears to his back yard. A tinkerer since he dropped out of school in his teens, Chen Zhaorong has been working on this project for nearly 10 years, but only began flight attempts a few months ago. The first attempts were neither successful nor fatal, (a remarkable combo) but this time around he not only got liftoff, but seemed to be in complete control.

And in control he was, piloting the buzzing death machine to a totally unnecessary height of over five stories. His apparent skill is especially fortunate considering the close proximity of buildings, power lines and men on motorcycles, each of which poses its own interesting "will it blend" question. The answer to all of them? Yes. This video was secretly released by a friend of the builder, as he had been banned from flight by local officials after a near disaster mere weeks ago.

DIY helicopters are nothing new, but like that Chinese farmer's poop-inducing flight on an even less together-looking craft, Zhaorong's effort deserves special mention for its economy and shear nerviness.

Hugh R · 06-30-2008, 08:38 PM

$3,000 very cool. Watch out for those power lines bro.

Danny_Ocean · 06-30-2008, 08:57 PM

http://gizmodo.com/5019978/chinese-farmer-flies-self+built-airplane-doesnt-wet-pants

2.7RACER · 06-30-2008, 08:58 PM

This is an amazing achievement. We spend $3,000 on an intake system for our Porsches. This man has built and successfully flown his chopper. This is further proof of the dedication and determination of a single talented man.
My hat's off.

rusnak · 06-30-2008, 09:10 PM

On Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls flew a para-sail with a supercharged lawnmower engine over (as in over the top) of Mt. Everest. It looks just like a para-sail, only instead of being pulled by a boat or a car, it has a propeller. He had a two bit radio that cut out on him, and was on oxygen most of the time.

If his oxygen mask blew off, he'd have passed out and died, among jillions of things that could have gone wrong. He makes the Chinese dude look pretty sane.

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

On Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls flew a para-sail with a supercharged lawnmower engine over (as in over the top) of Mt. Everest. It looks just like a para-sail, only instead of being pulled by a boat or a car, it has a propeller. He had a two bit radio that cut out on him, and was on oxygen most of the time.

If his oxygen mask blew off, he'd have passed out and died, among jillions of things that could have gone wrong. He makes the Chinese dude look pretty sane.

Hats off to Bear, who happens to be a expert parachuter and survivalist, but that doesn't diminish this guys insanity!

89911 · 07-01-2008, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

On Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls flew a para-sail with a supercharged lawnmower engine over (as in over the top) of Mt. Everest. It looks just like a para-sail, only instead of being pulled by a boat or a car, it has a propeller. He had a two bit radio that cut out on him, and was on oxygen most of the time.

If his oxygen mask blew off, he'd have passed out and died, among jillions of things that could have gone wrong. He makes the Chinese dude look pretty sane.

I don't know dude, eating the elephant turd was much more challenging

KNS · 07-01-2008, 10:58 AM

Very cool. I hope his first flights weren't in such a confined area, the guy has some very large, highly polished nads.

Our teens drop out in hopes of making it to American Idol.

Chinese teens build their own flying machines.

Mule · 07-01-2008, 11:07 AM

Ghetto helo:

Hawktel · 07-01-2008, 11:56 AM

The linky says the dude has tried several times before on the flight thing, but this was his most successful. And the Gubermint has a ban on him flying after a near accident on a previous attempt.

I liked the guy who made robots. Just think, with a decent education, and a lab what these dudes could do.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Just filming this guy puts one's life at risk.

I'll stick with hovercraft.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kach22i

Just filming this guy puts one's life at risk.

I'll stick with hovercraft.

Mijn hovercraft zit vol palingen

rusnak · 07-01-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89911

I don't know dude, eating the elephant turd was much more challenging

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he squeeze the water out of the elephant turd, and drink the ...ah, "slurry"?

tcar · 07-01-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he squeeze the water out of the elephant turd, and drink the ...ah, "slurry"?

You're right. He did not EAT it. That would be disgusting.

Squeezed out the water into his mouth and made a funny face.

rusnak · 07-01-2008, 05:31 PM

oh...ok so it's not that disgusting. But eating goat balls, that was disgusting.

djmcmath · 07-02-2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kach22i

I'll stick with hovercraft.

My hovercraft is full of eels.

89911 · 07-02-2008, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

You're right. He did not EAT it. That would be disgusting.

Squeezed out the water into his mouth and made a funny face.

Ahh, so sorry. I correct myself, it was the liquid and not the terrible turd itself!

What do you thing my life insurer would say if I told them I was going to purchase and fly a homemade helicopter from China?