Project: Tipsy Bee, by Curtis Barnes

In the Nov/Dec 1998 edition of the Stanford Magazine, an interview (archive) with Mr. Curtis Barnes reveals that he has been working on a human powered helicopter. From the article: "Using wire and wood, space-age plastics and carbon fiber, Barnes has spent hundreds of hours putting his 'Tipsy Bee’ together -- one screw at a time. Now he’s finishing the craft -- attaching 36 blades made of balsa wood and Mylar to two huge rotors. These are connected by a 40-foot bicycle chain to a contraption resembling an exercise bike. Sitting in the bike seat, the pilot pumps with his arms and legs to power the copter." The article also suggests that his 125 lbs grandson is the test pilot. :)

Another article on the Tipsy Bee can be found here, from a 1997 edition of the Jackson County Mail Tribune, in Oregon. In this article, Curtis Barnes "reports one of his craft has lifted off the ground, albeit only by a whisker." He has achieved a weight of "less than 58 pounds". The light weight was achieved "largely by reducing the weight of the each of the 32 blades from more than a pound to nine ounces apiece. Once aluminum, they are now made of wood and carbon fiber and coated in clear plastic."

This is the same aircraft that performed a demonstration at the 1994 human powered flight international symposium in Seattle. I hope to have some video of this up on the website soon. It is described on page 19 of this IHPVA journal. We learn that there are 2 rotors, 24 feet in diameter each and that the pilot uses both his legs and arms to provide power. The attempt was cut short by a trouble with the transmission.

According to the above articles, Mr Barnes has created many prototype human powered helicopters of different configuration plus a prototype flying car! I hope someone has been documenting his creations with photos. If you have any photos, I hope you will contact this website.