Dragonfly DF1: Hydrogen Peroxide-Powered

The Dragonfly DF1 is unlike an ordinary helicopter because it only has room for one person and resembles a chair and a shopping cart with rotor blades attached. It is propelled by rockets mounted to the rotor tips that use hydrogen peroxide as fuel. With a combined power of slightly over 100 horsepower per rocket motor, both rockets launch. The main rotors are propelled by hydrogen peroxide propulsion systems that are only eight inches long and 1.5 pounds each. Powerful tail rotor activity is not required because there is no central motor to create torque.

Instead, a simple, weak tail rotor is used just for minimal steering functions. Given that the Dragonfly DF1 only weighs 230 pounds and has a total power output of 204 horsepower, the power to weight ratio is outstanding. Creator of the device and well-known Brazilian aeronautical engineer Ricardo Cavalcanti, Chairman Avimech Int'l Aircraft, Inc., views the invention as a more environmentally responsible means of flight. Once the hydrogen peroxide rockets have the blades whirling at 750 revolutions per minute, Ricardo's contraption employs a collective pitch control to ascend.

Role: Helicopter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Avimech International Aircraft, Inc.
Status: In production (2015)