Odd Copter

It still has a ways to go, but still pretty cool....

http://www.slashgear.com/e-volo-volocopter-vc200-done-its-first-manned-flight-08435441/

One is, No tail rotor to counter the torque

A conventional helicopter is a complex piece of machinery with many moving parts. The blades have to change pitch as they rotate to maintain balance (cyclic control) and change pitch together (collective control) to increase or decrease lift, and they have to flex to avoid high stresses. A tail rotor is necessary to cancel out the counter torque from the main rotor. Many mechanical parts means that maintenance costs are high.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter

An advantage of a multirotor craft (drone) is that the attitude control is much simpler by changing the speed of selected rotors. Modern electronic control replaces mechanical parts. The more rotors (and motors), the higher the reliability. As with a conventional helicopter, the efficiency (Power/Lift) is increased with increased total area swept out by the rotors (lower disk loading, lb/sq ft).

I am intrigued, how fast can this toy fly. It seems to make sense now, operation wise if two or four rotors goes off on the air, the rest may seem to compensate the loss of lift.

I wonder (and am going to research a bit) how much money was spent on developing the helicopter by the US military? I'll bet it was quite high. To be the preeminent possessor of a VTOL craft in war time? Wheew!

Most of the basic development was done by private individuals/companies, most notably Sikorsky, Bell, Hiller, Piasecki, and Kaman in the US. Sikorsky was the most successfully initially in sales to the Army in WW II. Bell became a competitor in the Korean War. Due to the limited performance capability (engines) helicopters were primarily used for rescue and medical evacuation. When turbine engines with much better power-to-weight ratios became affordable and reliable the potential uses of helicopters increased. The Army began to explore the use of helicopters for troop transport, recconnaisance, close air support, and re-supply as well as rescue and medevac. At the same time Boeing and then McDonnell-Douglas entered the market and more DoD money was invested to develop the needed technologies (a lot of money).

Kaman K-MAX Looks goofy when it flies. But no tail rotor.

I hope the counter rotating blades stay synchronized!

This thing can lift 6000 pounds, more than its empty weight. Pretty impressive.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=kaman%20k-max

Years ago, I watched one preforming swift water (floods) rescues.

It was impressive to watch it, and the pilot, work.

I'm certainly impressed!!!

And I want one.

Hooker

Good start for what the world needs - a 100-ton heavy lifter,

There's nothing for your left hand or your feet to do.

Nice, and maybe some autopilot feature, perhaps.

Nothing for the feet to do? Well how do you think the electricity is generated.

"Hey Winston,...Pedal faster!"