Can This Chinese Farmer's DIY Helicopter Really Fly?

Reportedly, the wooden copter can soar up to 2,600 feet, but the Chinese government has grounded it for safety reasons

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 08.07.2009 at 2:46 pm 7 Comments

That's One Crazy Copter: A farmer cares to bet his life on his DIY copter, but the Chinese government says no. DVICE

Anyone who dares to build a helicopter with wooden blades, a steel-pipe-reinforced frame, and a motorcycle engine deserves to go up in the thing. But the Chinese government has forbidden farmer Wu Zhongyuan from even attempting a test flight. We just want to see if the crazy contraption can fly.

Granted, Chinese locals have history of bold DIY inventions ranging from homemade robots to DIY gyrocopters and airplanes. Many of these emerged from the "shanzhai" movement, which celebrates both homemade ingenuity and knockoffs.

On the higher end, some well-engineered knockoffs can even successfully riff on the iPhone and other high-tech products, although counterfeits can raise safety issues for Chinese consumers.

Wu says that he built the copter based on middle-school physics, and all for a sum of $1,600. If the copter truly works and isn't just a hoax, he claims that the invention can get him as high as 2,600 feet.

What do you think? Is that a viable flying machine or a pretty model?

He's not alone among China's DIY flyers, if these videos are any indication.

[via DVICE, Ananova and Automotto]

Previous Article: Green Dream: The Swiss Cheese Staircase

Next Article: You Built What!? Lrry, A Fire Breathing Robo-Beast

Want to read more articles on the military, aviation, and space? Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!

7 Comments

link to this comment

Gonazar

08/08/09 at 3:04 am

The one in the photo and the one in the video are different...

I definitely would not trust my life with the one in the photo. It seems to be lacking in quite a few aspects, such as steering. The rotors don't look like they tilt and it doesn't seem like there is much way to control pitch or yaw.

I have to admit the one in the video is built much better, hence the flying capability. Still not much in the way of safety though, but that's up to the pilot.

link to this comment

Hurtzmyhead

08/08/09 at 5:03 pm

The one in the photo and the ones in the videos are different: "He's not alone among China's DIY flyers, if these videos are any indication." but yea i agree with you, i would gladly trust mt life with the ones in the videos than in the picture

link to this comment

stevehick55

08/08/09 at 7:42 pm

The craft in the video is an Autogyro. This type of craft was featured in the "James Bond" film "You Only Live Twice"(1967). Yet another exceedingly cool "Q" gadget!
look at the article on wiki for more info!

link to this comment

blaxpear

08/09/09 at 2:42 am

BAWLS!!! Indeed...

link to this comment

PhilInYork

08/09/09 at 4:54 pm

This contraption has a better chance of flying then the Moller Skycar. You should put it on the cover.

link to this comment

PhilInYork

08/09/09 at 5:04 pm

So is he going to take it to Oshkosh, show videos of it almost flying, and start taking orders for $100K? Or perhaps he can interest the military and get funding.

link to this comment

popscycle

08/09/09 at 7:37 pm

this is the chinese farmer home made helicopter that really can fly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l422VlRE4xs