World's smallest helicopter to fly in da Vinci birthplace

      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).

      据研发者介绍，世界上最小的单人直升飞机不久将在达·芬奇的出生地试飞。达·芬奇被认为是提出直升飞行器想法的第一人。

      据75岁的日本研发者平贺柳泽介绍，这架重75公斤的直升机将于本月25日在佛罗伦萨附近的达芬奇市进行试飞。

      他说：“因为直升机的理念源自意大利，所以我一直想在达·芬奇的出生地飞一次。”

      他在接受记者采访时说：“我觉得自己在问候一位祖先。我希望达·芬奇（如有在天之灵）也能感到欣慰。”

      平贺柳泽说，他于今年2月前往达芬奇市，得到了市长达里奥•帕里尼的支持。

      这架代号为GEN H-4的直升机有两个向相反方向旋转的旋翼，最高飞行速度可达每小时50公里。

      《吉尼斯世界纪录》于今年2月认定它为世界上最小的单人直升机。

      文艺复兴时期的天才人物达·芬奇于1452年出生于达芬奇市，并在这里度过了他人生的最初几年。

      达·芬奇创作于1493年的一幅直升飞机的素描于19世纪被发现。GEN H-4直升机与这幅素描中的直升机一样，也没有尾翼。

      平贺柳泽在位于东京以北的松本市经营一家专售这种直升机的公司。目前他已在日本国内售出五架，并向美国顾客售出两架。

      目前这种直升机的售价为600万日元（58250美元）。