GEN H-4 Helicopter--World's Smallest

By Mariella on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 comments

Hey, do you remember that KA-56 portable helicopter I posted late last year? That concept was never realised. Perhaps it wasn't time for a small chopper during that time. Come 2008 however, the world's smallest one-man helicopter is now available commercially.

Called the GEN H-4, this diminutive chopper was designed and created by Japanese inventor Gennai Yanagisawa. It will take a symbolic flight in Vinci, Italy on May 25 as a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci. The GEN H-4 has no tail like what conventional choppers exhibit. Instead, it has two propellers rotating oppositely to cancel out torque and provide a balanced air flight. It ~~goes~~ flies at a max speed of 31 mph and could easily be outstripped by a motorcycle but what the hey--at least there's no traffic overhead! Actually, the GEN H-4 is already available commercially. So far, it's only sold six units in the USA for Â£29,125.

Chopper commute to work, here we come!