Strange things read on Facebook

[Memmeddu]

Hi everyone that's not a serious thread , it's something that could be incorporated to the DARWIN'S AWARDS thread posted by @bigegg .
Anyway a guy asked on Facebook if is possible build your own helicopter

He's seriously intended to build his own choppa
TBH is something I've thought myself when I was 13ish but no space to fly so

Here in Italy nothing can fly without ENAC authorization .
But you can build your own helicopter or plane if the finish product doesn't weight more than 450kg .
Now just for joke what do you think about?
I think that would be a funny project but I'd prefer to don't fly over 10 meters high over an open field

It's unbelievable how many insane peoples there are out there

 

[Morrisman]

I watched a tv program about people building small aeroplanes a few weeks ago, some were tiny, but carried alone guy and flew perfectly normally.

A helicopter, Hmmm, that is a different story.

 

[Rrobson]

There was a long running series On tv over here where a guy built a few things. There were in kit firm of course but I’m sure a helicopter was one
One I can remember was called a plane is born, but he did other things like cars.
Anything is possible with the correct knowledge

 

[Memmeddu]

I watched a tv program about people building small aeroplanes a few weeks ago, some were tiny, but carried alone guy and flew perfectly normally.

A helicopter, Hmmm, that is a different story.

The collective plates would be the hardest parts to make

 

[Memmeddu]

There was a long running series On tv over here where a guy built a few things. There were in kit firm of course but I’m sure a helicopter was one
One I can remember was called a plane is born, but he did other things like cars.
Anything is possible with the correct knowledge

I know that series I used to watch it on discovery channel ,it was pretty interesting .
The problem here is that guy I'm talking about didn't even know how an helicopter works

 

[bigegg]

There was a long running series On tv over here where a guy built a few things. There were in kit firm of course but I’m sure a helicopter was one
One I can remember was called a plane is born, but he did other things like cars.
Anything is possible with the correct knowledge

Car is born.
Chopper is born.

He was a TV vet, iirc?

<Edit>
They seem tobe available on youboob?

 

[Memmeddu]

I've even seen on Instagram an homemade quadcopter able to carry 2 peoples

 

[brightspark]

you could build your own microlite or gyrocopter years ago I know a few that did. I bought a microlite of a lad in the pub for 1500 quid and flew it around for a year .never had a licence or even taken any lessons on one had a couple of engine failures and did emergency landings in fields .one was a cornfield came to an abrupt halt quick

 

[Nomad]

In the UK we have "microlight" self-build planes, a single garage can be used as a workshop.
They are inspected at stages during the build and get a certificate to fly when they are complete.

Some look like a hang-glider but others look like a tiny Piper/Cessna. I was trying to book a flying lesson in one last year but never managed.
https://flyinglessons.co.uk/aircraft/microlight-flying-lessons/
@fizzy - you were curious about these?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Someone, somewhere just built one one day. If you read Eric browns book, when RAE farnborough took delivery of an extremely early chopper he was given a manual and had to figure it out himself, so it’s not that unreasonable

 

[fizzy]

I would love to build this - available as a kit!
The Murphy Moose

 

[slim_boy_fat]

There's a chap locally who built a fixed-wing [not the kite with engine sort] microlight in his front room, then realised he couldn't get it out so had to dismantle it again. When done, he wheeled it to an old friend [sadly no longer with us] who was an airframe fitter in the RAF, asking him to check it over.

First thing said friend noticed was that the bolts holding the engine to the frame were of the wrong spec, also too long and the extra length had been packed out with washers...... Iirc, he stopped his 'check' at that point - I don't remember the thing ever actually getting off the ground but I might be wrong in that, 'twas a long time ago.

 

[brightspark]

there was a guy on teeside built a gyrocopter about 50 years ago all was going well till he decided to do a loop on it showing off needless to say he crashed and snuffed it edit just looked it up he didn't loop it was just an accident https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2007/09/10/class-visit-to-teesside-airport/

 

[mike os]

yes its possible, but if hes asking the question he may lack the knowledge and skills

there are kits available, or used to be

 

[bigegg]

If i was tempted [1] I'd be looking at a "drone" type quadcopter, rather than a normal helicopter or fixed wing.
Seems much more stable, controllable, and safe.

[1] I'm not tempted, because I have an issue with heights - I'm not keen on high kerbs. In fact, I don't even like being this tall. (Peter Falk, "colombo")

 

[jerrytug]

@Memmeddu

When I was about 15 and obsessed with motorbikes and flying, I badgered my dad to send off for the plans to the G1
home made helicopter. (never built one, but I got in the Air Cadets to scratch my itch) It was originally designed to use the Triumph Tiger 500 twin engine... sounds a bit risky

 

[Maker]

If i was tempted [1] I'd be looking at a "drone" type quadcopter, rather than a normal helicopter or fixed wing.
Seems much more stable, controllable, and safe.

Four times as many motors/engines to fail and when one does fail, the rotors are all fixed pitch so you won't get them auto rotating, you'll just plummet. Something like an octocopter could lose a rotor and still have just enough lift/control to land safely.

 

[Nomad]

A great homebuild forum, the warbird section is fascinating https://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/

One design I love the look of is the amphibian Gweduck - https://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/threads/gweduck-first-flight.3719/#post-317250

 

[Cobbler]

I know someone that built several Skybolts from scratch, I even got a ride in one several years ago

 

[jerrytug]

there was a guy on teeside built a gyrocopter about 50 years ago all was going well till he decided to do a loop on it showing off needless to say he crashed and snuffed it edit just looked it up he didn't loop it was just an accident https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2007/09/10/class-visit-to-teesside-airport/

You can't push negatiive G on an autogyro, it will stop the blades working and you will die. Unfortunately, shoving the stick forwards is a regular input, indeed a muscle memory on fixed wing flying, so gyro control inputs are highly counter-intuitive for most people.