In August 1945, the Mechanix Illustrated magazine published a short article with a photograph that was destined to be "reborn" and bypass the Internet after half a century. The photo showed Horace Pentecost from Seattle. In his right hand, he gripped the Hoppicopter flight control stick. And the apparatus itself is fixed on the strong shoulders of the inventor.
It looks impressive and terrifying at the same time. Here's what we managed to find out about this device. The mechanism was the first prototype to be built by Horace, was "indexed" HX-1 and "never flew as intended." Such a model, by the way, is in the Smithsonian Institution. The poster next to Hoppicopter has this information:
Hoppicopter at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Yesterday 264 views 197 reads 2 min. 264 views. Unique visitors to the page. 197 reads, 75%. Users who have read to the end. 2 minutes. Average time to read a publication. The New Icarus, or "Mechanical Wings" by Horace T. Pentecosta In August 1945, the Mechanix Illustrated magazine published a short note with a photograph that was destined to be "reborn" and bypass the Internet after half a century. The photo showed Horace Pentecost from Seattle. In his right hand, he gripped the Hoppicopter flight control stick. And the apparatus itself is fixed on the strong shoulders of the inventor. The same picture The same picture The same picture It looks impressive and terrifying at the same time. Here's what we managed to find out about this device. The mechanism was the first prototype to be built by Horace, had the "index" HX-1, and "never flew like thisas intended.” Such a model, by the way, is in the Smithsonian Institution. The poster next to Hoppicopter reads: Hoppicopter is part of a long search for a truly inexpensive personal aircraft. Horace Pentecost collected it during World War II. He sold it to the American military as a replacement for the parachutes used by the paratroopers. " Hoppicopter at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Hoppicopter at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Hoppicopter at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “The structure consists of a small 20 horsepower engine driving two counter-rotating sets rotor blades attached to the pilot's shoulders and back. The biggest design weakness was the use of the pilot's legs as a landing gear. If the pilot trips during landing or takeoff, the blades will quickly turn into thousands of potentially deadly fragments from impacting the ground. Hoppi-Copter 101 advertisement. With a girl:) Hoppi-Copter 101 advertisement. With a girl:) Hoppi-Copter 101 advertisement. With girl:)
The next Hoppicopter 101 had a seat and wheels. Time wrote about her on April 7, 1947. This is a helicopter devoid of almost everything comfortable: there is only a seat, landing wheels and two horizontal rotors rotating in opposite directions. Version 2 was equipped with a 35 hp engine. with two opposed cylinders, similar to an outboard motor.
Pentecost's third attempt was accompanied by futuristic illustrations.
There was also a third version of the Hoppicopter. Well-known magazines also wrote about her. Only Pentecost never received any serious proposal from the military. He tried to sell the Hoppicopter as a sports plane, but … his wife forced him to leave the company he created after the divorce. In 1956, an attempt was made to revive the development of a unique device, but this failed. After that, the traces of Horace are completely lost.
Testing "version 101":
Promotional video:
