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World's smallest helicopter to fly in da Vinci
birthplace
World's smallest one-man helicopter, GEN H-4, is seen here flying in the
city of Matsumoto, Nagano prefect
ure, central Japan. It will soon take flight in
the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, who is credited with having first thought
of a vertical-flight machine, according to its developer.
The world's smallest one-man helicopter will soon take flight in the
birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, who is credited with having first thought of a
vertical-flight machine, its developer said.
The 75-kilogram helicopter will make a demonstration flight in the city of
Vinci, near Florence, on May 25, according to Japanese developer Gennai
Yanagisawa, 75.
"Since the concept of our helicopter came from Italy, I always wanted to
take a flight in the birthplace of da Vinci," Yanagisawa said.
"I feel like I'm greeting an ancestor. I hope da Vinci would be pleased,"
Yanagisawa told reporters.
Yanagisawa said he went to Vinci in February and received the blessing of
Mayor Dario Parrini.
The helicopter, named GEN H-4, has a set of two rotors turning in opposite
directions and can fly at a maximum speed of 50 kilometres (31 miles) per hour.
Guinness World Records in February recognized it as the world's smallest
helicopter that can carry a person.
Renaissance genius da Vinci was born in Vinci in 1452 and spent the first
several years of his life there.
His sketch, dated in 1493 and discovered in the 19th century, shows a
vertical flight machine. As in the drawing, the GEN H-4 has no tail.
Yanagisawa runs a company in Matsumoto, north of Tokyo, selling the
helicopter. He has sold five units in Japan and two to US customers.
The current model is priced at six million yen (58,250 dollars).(Agencies)
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