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The helicopter, which the 35-member engineering team at the University of Maryland designed, is only about 75 pounds in weight, without a pilot onboard. It is built from lightweight carbon fiber rods, and a micro-truss design.
The 'copter contains four large rotors that spread out from the pilot, who is positioned in the center.
The helicopter rises off the ground as the pilot pedals like being on a bicycle. This motion allows the blades to move and eventually the craft lifts itself off the ground.
If they are able to fly for at least 60 seconds and at least three meters off the ground while staying inside a 100 square meter box, then they will win the 250,000 prize, which is being sponsored by the American Helicopter Society.
The YouTube video "Gamera II HPH sixth flight, 6/20 ~40 seconds" shows the 40-second flight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-k-3efasOk).
Its caption states, "The sixth flight of Gamera II, the second human powered helicopter from the University of Maryland's Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center. Video evidence suggests the helicopter, piloted by Colin Gore, flew for approximately 40 seconds."
A 50-second flight happened a day later with pilot Kyle Gluesenkamp! See it above at: "Gamera II HPH World Record Flight: 50 seconds" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0qfgBeb35Y)
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