Hiller HJ-1: One Minute Video With Flaming Rotor Tips From The 50's

 As this article about the 1950's era Hiller HJ-1 over at aviastar.org tells, it appears that high fuel consumption and extra, extra challenging autorotations kept this ramjet powered, tail rotor-less helicopter from being a success.  I dunno... it might be those wild trails of flame engulfing the ramjets as the rotor starts to spool up that turned people off a bit!  I love how the narrator is telling how it's "practically foolproof" as we see the fire fly : )

 Either way it's very cool to see it flying, and especially as it slides by so close to the cameraman.  I never get tired of seeing the fascinating ideas that people actually built and flew in those amazing 1950's!