Monocopter Gallery

[JAL3]

My club flies a lot of monocopters. I would hazard a guess that at any one club launch, we launch more monocopters than most clubs would launch in a year...or more. A big part of the reason for that is that Art Applewhite is a member and supplies most of them, although one other member really specializes in beautiful experiments in that area.

The Helix is probably the most common of the breed. In keeping with Art's minimalist approach, it is extremely easy to build. I built my first one, the 13mm version, specifically for a demo at a local museum where space is tight. The kids loved it.

I painted my 13mm Helix yellow. No frills. I called it the Yellow Menace because before I launched it, I had no idea what to expect. It proved not to be very menacing at all. It was just fun.

My TRF thread is here: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=777

The photo albums are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/collections/72157607416976790/

 

[rstaff3]

Oh, where to start?

For now, here's my Grizzly Behr Monocopter. It was made from Behr paint stirrers.

 

[JAL3]

A 13mm Helix means that there is sure to be an 18mm version as well. Mine is called the Purple Plague. I was still distrustful of these things when it was built.

I can't see that I've ever had a TRF thread for it. Right now, I don't even know where it is.

The albums are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/collections/72157607424750013/

 

[JonSivier]

Here are a couple of images of my Alien Enterprises 24mm monocopter taking off on an E9-P. Notice the igniter plug being shot out of the nozzle in the first image.

Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
NAR #56437 | Tripoli #1906
Home Page: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jsivier/www/

 

[JAL3]

Here are a couple of images of my Alien Enterprises 24mm monocopter taking off on an E9-P. Notice the igniter plug being shot out of the nozzle in the first image.

Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
NAR #56437 | Tripoli #1906
Home Page: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jsivier/www/

I have one of those waiting in the package. How hard was it to build?

 

[JonSivier]

I have one of those waiting in the package. How hard was it to build?

It went together very easily. I used plenty of epoxy and added a couple of additional strips of carbon fiber between the hub and the wing to strengthen the joint. I've flown it mostly on E9's and E11 reloads. If you get the balance right it will autogyro on the way down.

Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
NAR #56437 | Tripoli #1906
Home Page: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jsivier/www/

 

[Lentamental]

Heres an old monocopter I built in 4th or 5th grade, in the early years of monocopters, following a design in a Sport Rocketry magazine. Apparently, weight on the tips of the stabilization rods hadn't yet been invented.
I built the copter as the magazine suggested, using a cardboard laminated balsa sheet and stock rocket parts. It flew TERRIBLY. It hardly got 20' off the pad, and nearly took out some people peacefully loading their rockets on the next row over.
My next iteration (shown here) took some major redesigning. I constructed a hollow aerofoiled wing using balsa struts to keep the form. The nose was a balsa transition, sanded to match the rotation. Even the center block was hollowed out and sanded to be more aerodynamic.
Results: It flew at least a hundred feet up, perfectly, with the satisfying sound of a helicopter. It then maple-seeded its way safely to the ground.

When I pulled it out of the closet last year, for some reason it decided flying was not on the list of things to do, and went any direction but up... Who knows?

 

[Micromeister]

Mine are of coarse Micro Monocopters.
They are a Hoot!

 

[MarkII]

Functional is beautiful. Here is my Coconut Pop, built from Art Applewhite's plans for his Popsicle Monocopter.

.

 

[seanmca79]

It went together very easily. I used plenty of epoxy and added a couple of additional strips of carbon fiber between the hub and the wing to strengthen the joint.

+1 on that reinforcement. That's right where mine broke. I use E6 loads in mine.

 

[DANLK66]

Just had a chance to launch this one again after a couple years off.

 

[JAL3]

Just had a chance to launch this one again after a couple years off.

View attachment 168808

I'd sure like to hear more about this one.

Can you give us details?

 

[TopRamen]

Never even heard of these til' this Thread.

 

[JAL3]

Never even heard of these til' this Thread.

Some are "high tech" such as those made by OOP Alien Enterprise. A friend had a 2 stage 29mm, 6 foot blade monster that always pleased the crowds.

Are are quite simple like Art Applewhite's Helix series.