Farmer invents mini-helicopter in Vietnam

Some years ago, the news about a farmer-engineer who created a helicopter which could fly was highlighted in local newspapers. The inventor of the helicopter was Bui Hien.

When asked about the helicopter in late July 2014, Hien said the first version has been placed in his “family’s museum”, while he is now focusing on designing second helicopter with considerable improvements up to international standards.

“The first version is a coaxial helicopter, but it had many problems that I only found when I continued working on it. Then I learned more from the foreign materials I found and I decided to make the second helicopter version,” he said.

“This time, I will not make a coaxial helicopter, but a monoplane,” he continued. “As for the second version, I will make it with international standards”.

The inventor said it took him three years to make the first helicopter, but it will take one year to make the second one and it is in the final stage.

Regarding technical issues, Hien said he previously used a motorboat engine for the first helicopter version. The engine could give sufficient wind power, but it had a big problem: it became too hot very quickly. The engine, if used for a small motorboat, could be cooled by water. However, it does not allow helicopters to fly high and for a long time.

Therefore, Hien decided to buy an engine from the US. As for other important parts of the helicopter, he had to make them himself.

The farmer had to spend three months learning how to fly his first helicopter at his workshop, while it took him only one month to fly the second one.

When asked why he is determined to make the helicopters and spend his fortune on the machines, the man said that he does not aim for commercial purposes.

“I just try to prove that Vietnamese can do everything. A farmer in Vietnam can also make a helicopter,” he said.

However, there is still something that makes him feel sad. While mini helicopters have been used worldwide in many different works, from watering rice fields, spraying chemicals and searching for accident victims, it is very difficult for Hien and other inventors to obtain licenses to carry out experiments.

Hien has applied for experiment licenses to many different competent agencies. However, he has been told to wait, and he has waited for a long time already.

“Vietnamese are clever and creative. They need to be encouraged to devote themselves to the nation,” he said.