Team Gamera is back and flight testing their modified version of Gamera II Human Powered Helicopter at the PG Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, MD.
With new pilot and incoming UMD Freshman Henry Enerson in the cockpit, a maximum altitude test flight was attempted. Needless to say we were not quite expecting what happened next. Henry smoothly pedaled Gamera up to just over 8 feet (2.5 meters) altitude and had a controlled descent for a flight time of about 25 seconds. This is not an official record but is certainly the highest a human powered helicopter has ever reached.
Our goals are to continue flight testing to achieve a 3 meter (9.8 ft) altitude as part of the AHS Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition (‘The Sikorsky Prize’). Stay tuned to this YouTube channel as more historic flights are achieved and posted!
Follow us on twitter!
#gamera
@umd_gamera
http://www.agrc.umd.edu/gamera/
http://vtol.org/awards-and-contests/human-powered-helicopter
20 Comments
First there were phrases like cool or hot that had nothing to do with a thermometer. Then there was sick, which had nothing to do with viruses or bacteria and meant something was, well really cool, or hot, or whatever. Now there is a new term "fake" which means you are a really clever group of engineers who have built a really amazing device.
It doesn't have to be, but our experiments and measurements showed an increase in power output when using both arms and legs versus legs alone. See page 3 of our design report, which is on our website (link in description, go to "Publications" on the side panel and open the Gamera II Design Paper)
That is amazing. Control will be your biggest challenge but flight height and endurance appear to be within reach. Great job Team Gamara. Power to weight really brought this design to life. I'm excited!
Does it have seatbelts then?
I was thinking about how control of my indoor helicopter changes around walls and furniture. I think your efforts would be better in a large indoor stadium. That might be cost prohibitive but I'm sure air current near the walls of your facility size will make control almost impossible.
CONGRATULATIONS <3 😀
This is really cool, but I reckon it cost way more than $250,000 to design and build.
I suspect that I could get a person-powered heli-cop-ter and airplane to be person-powered, to be much smaller, and have it fly way longer than 60 seconds. I am wondering how long will it be,before people figure out the way to do this venture in a better simplistic way?
Why it looks like pc game ?
They need to do this outside on a calm day!
you need some kind of differential, that powers the wings that are falling lower , or put one more wing on the top that has more weight on the ends to act as a gyro.
Ha, I randomly picture a criminal trying to get away in this and not getting to far
EVERYBODY PANIC!!! SAVE YOURSELVES!
Carbon fiber composite
lol
For extra power. They should make a small pedaling system for his forehead to nod up and down… =D
I coulda hit da roof!!!
Isn't this flying using ground effect, I would like to see a person flying this above ground effect to call it true human powered flight.
It like the human powered aircrafts that have been flown in the past just barely off the ground and not getting above ground effect altitude.
Could you explain to me whether it would be possible to get above this ground effect if this is ground effect by using human power alone?
You didn't reply to my question about that this is probably ground effect. I would like a reply please from you so I can be more informed about this as you seem to know about the subject of aerodynamics and flight.
Farting steam (пердячий пар)