After reading an interesting series in Vertiflight Magazine (the subscription magazine for those of us in the American Helicopter Society), I thought it would be worthwhile to pull together a summary of the personal helicopter market.  In this series of poss, I will provide some basic information about the ultralight and microlight VTOL vehicles that make up the personal helicopter market.  This  series of posts will include the following models/companies: the Helicycle, the Dragonfly, the Mosquito, Millennium Helicopters, and Safari Helicopters.  Let’s get started with the Helicycle.

The Helicycle

Designed by Idaho-based Eagle Research and Development, the Helicycle is a kit-built, gas-turbine powered single seat helicopter.  According to their mission statement, the goal of Eagle R&D, and this machine, is to develop a helicopter equal to the Robinson R22 for 1/5 the price.

If you are mechanically inclined, have about $30k to spare, and are willing to dedicate about 600 hours of your free time to building this bad boy, the above pictured machine could be yours – sans the gas turbine engine.  That will take a few more dollars to buy and install.

Helicycle Specifications:

The helicycle has a decent following, and more information can be found on their website here: http://www.helicycle.com/Index.htm 

Next up in the series, AviMech International Aircraft and their Dragonfly.