AFP has a story about a 24-year-old Nigerian physics undergrad who builds backyard helicopters out of car and bike parts (and a crashed commercial plane).
The chopper… is made from scrap aluminium that Abdullahi bought with the money he makes from computer and mobile phone repairs, and a donation from his father, who teaches at Kano’s Bayero university.
It is powered by a second-hand 133 horsepower Honda Civic car engine and kitted out with seats from an old Toyota saloon car. Its other parts come from the carcass of a Boeing 747 which crashed near Kano some years ago.
16 thoughts on “Homebrewed helicopter”
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I think I got an email from this guy.
RIP Abdullahi 1983-2007.
A bit melodramatic perhaps, but I just personally don’t think that a helicopter is something you want to “poor-boy”.
@rich.thomas- Bwahahahahaha!!!
Hey…for workin where he is and what he got…..A+ MAKEr!!!! No, I DONT want a ride!
This is incredible. Building a working helicopter from the ground up is a very complex feat. To do it with no specialized resources is definitely even more astounding.
This said, I wouldn’t ride in it, I must agree with aolshove.
and rich.thomas, that comment is inappropriate. I live in Montreal and we take great pride in our rich telemarketing/online fraud heritage. Nigeria has nothing on us. ;)
My uncle built a heli from a mail order kit once. He built it, flew it about 15 feet off the ground before nearly pooping his pants, and never even turned it on again. I think it’s still rotting in his garage after more than 20 years.
Video or it didn’t happen.
If that thing can go up and come back down in one piece, he should get an offer of an green card and a free ticket to the US.
1 wonder how heavy that thing is well hellichper ( it looks very small)