The massive engineering-defying Helicarrier from the Avengers is a brilliant work of CGI. Too bad it’d never actually fly… Like… Never.
Luckily, that didn’t stop our favorite RC hackers over at FliteTest from making a scale model of it — that actually works! If you’re not familiar, the Helicarrier is a fictional ship, the pride of S.H.I.E.L.D’s air force, or is it their navy.
It’s a massive aircraft carrier with four huge repulsor engines built into it, borrowing tech from Stark Industries. The shear size of it is what makes it completely ridiculous, but at the same time, it’s also unbelievably awesome.
Unfortunately, repulsor technology doesn’t seem to exist yet, so the FliteTest crew had to settle with a set of 8 brushless outrunner motors, with two per “engine”. The whole thing is almost 6′ long.
It doesn’t handle that well (not surprising!) but they were able to launch another RC plane off of it, mid-flight! Landing however… well you’ll have to watch the video.
This is the first of FliteTest’s new series called “Will it Fly”, and we’re pretty excited to see what they come up with next. But with that being said, we can’t say we’re surprised they were able to make it work. These are the folks who made a freaking flying toaster… and threw a butane afterburner onto an RC jet!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the repulsor helicarrier only featured in the 2nd captain America? And the one in the avengers has fans.
I’m not sure if you’re trying to correct something in the article, but yes you are right.
He is right. The HeliCarrier in the Avengers used turbine fans. It didn’t get the repulsors until Cap 2 because I’m assuming Tony didn’t know about it until the events in Avengers and ended up scaling the repulsor tech up to use in SHIELDS HeliCarrier.
Under a kilo? All up weight, or just the frame? Because my tricopter comes in at something close to that, and lifts easily on three small motors.
I think the under a kilo isn’t quite right. Looking at the source article, I’m guessing you got the specs from the Blade 350 QX3 AP (which weighs 995 grams) and the helicarrier confused.
I will just put this here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QFHFXcIMuA
Forum thread with build and discussion is in description.
This helicarrier was built in 2012.
That one looks WAY better and he has the balls to land/take off from water.
Best of all that guy is the one who gave us the Flying DeLorian!!!
The “flying models from films” play list
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA4U-6GmkUw&list=PLbqRa7sB0Uy-8w5Zgz_CyS3eN0M2d-oGF
That’s a great scale model, just not a functional carrier.
If the entire body could be constructed with cells of Hydrogen, it might have a better chance.
It would have to be half blimp, half heli.
it is around 6′, so take body of 6′ x 1′ x 1′ = 180cm * 30 * 30 = 162 liters.
The lift is around 190 grams. Not sure if it would help much.
sheer != shear