There are some devices where the expression “you go first” always pops into my head, and this is certainly one of them. We’ve seen some other wacky designs from Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana that have actually made it into production, so there’s a chance that their Libelula Rocket Helicopter concept could turn into a real product.
By using tiny rocket motors at the tips of the rotor blades, the Libelula eliminates the torque which makes a tail rotor necessary in a conventional helicopter. This in theory makes it much more reliable, which is a good thing when you’re hanging from a backpack a few hundred feet above terra firma.
