If you can successfully fly a human-powered aircraft, you could win $250,000. AHS International, the Vertical Flight Society, have created the Igor I Sikorsky Human-Powered Helicopter Competition that will award the first person to successfully fly a human powered helicopter and achieve an altitude of at least three meters and lasting for 60 seconds with $250,000.
Prof. Akira Naito of Japan currently holds the world record for creating a four-prop aircraft which reached and held an altitude of 0.2 meters for more than 19 seconds in 1994. The challenge of vertical flight has proven to be very difficult as an earlier offer of $20,000 for the first human-powered aircraft with the ability of vertical takeoff and landing remains unclaimed after nearly 30 years. We shall see if considerably upping the ante will provide the desired results.
Sources: Early helicopters | human-powered helicopters
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Human-powered Flight Technology
- Innovation opportunities stem from exploring various power systems and materials to create more efficient and successful human-powered flights.
- Sustainable Transportation
- Human-powered aircraft and vehicles present an opportunity for industries to explore eco-friendly and sustainable transportation options.
- Vertical Flight Systems
- The creation of successful human-powered vertical flight systems opens up possibilities for futuristic forms of travel and transportation.
Sectors Adopting This
- Aerospace Industry
- The human-powered helicopter competition presents an opportunity for the aerospace industry to innovate and advance vertical flight technology.
- Sports Industry
- The competition can be considered a sporting event, providing opportunities for the sports industry to invest and grow in human-powered flight competitions and events.
- Eco-friendly Transportation Industry
- The development of human-powered aviation and transportation technologies presents opportunities for eco-friendly transportation and sustainable energy industries to innovate and advance their technology.
