The Dragonfly is a personal flying machine with a slightly different bent.  It’s a rocket-propelled helicopter with an open cockpit design ala Buck Rogers or the Million Dollar Man.  The machine itself, as far as looks go, is pure 1970s sci-fi.  It’s mechanics?  Well.. they probably are too.

It’s a single-seat helicopter whose propulsion is supplied by a two-prop rotor.  Nothing seriously unusual about that, until you see it operate.  Strong streams of vapor emit from the tips of the rotor as it twirls and a definite “whooooooosh” is heard, but no engine sounds.  Why?

Because on the tip of each rotor is a small cylinder emitting hydrogen peroxide.  Yes, the Dragonfly is powered by hydrogen peroxide, which when released into the air turns into water vapor, just like some of NASA’s famous rockets.  Those tiny little 1.5 pound engines (3 pounds total, mind you) at 8 inches apiece provide enough spin to lift the whole machine and its pilot off the ground and into the air.

The whole machine weighs about 230 pounds, produces 204 horsepower, and is an idea that’s been around since, you guessed it, the 1950s.  Best of all?  You can buy one!

Check out more at Wired.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.