The Dragonfly DF1 may not look like much, but it could be the first model in a whole new field of quiet, ultralight, non-polluting, low-cost helicopters.
Instead of using a fixed motor attached to the body of the helicopter to drive the blades, rocket helicopters have small rocket motors located at the tips of the blades. The rockets propel the rotors directly, reducing vibration and providing much improved stability. Best of all, because there is no motor torque, a tail rotor is only required to rotate the helicopter, not prevent it from death-spiraling into the ground. The basic idea has has been around since 1950 and the US Navy were even experimenting with them for use as helicopter backpacks.
Rocket choppers are much simpler to fly than conventional helicopters as there are less flight controls and with almost no moving parts, they’re also safer. They still have the familiar collective/throttle lever but they add a motorbike-like control bar which tilts the rotor head and controls flight direction and rotation. There are no foot controls.
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