New Technology

The Diöferr Diora Kx165 Icepick is a twin rotor counter-rotating helicopter built in Hungary and designed by the AeroConsult Engineering Bureau. I talked to their chief engineer Dr Imre Bánó.

The company has been designing the Icepick for four years, and they hope to fly it soon. So far they have only done ground-runs, as Dr Bánó said, rather endearingly, “we did not want to risk flying it for the first time just before Friedrichshafen, and then having nothing to show.”

They decided to go for the co-axial main rotor for reasons of safety, expense (as there are fewer moving parts) and compactness. Unlike other co-axial systems the Icepick does not have a rudder, and the pedals work on the lower swashplate, changing pitch...