{"title":"Helicopters","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDIY Plans for homebuilt helicopters. Build and fly your own ultralight helicopter made at home. Complete plans and for several different helis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mini-1-helicopter","title":"MINI-1 Helicopter","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe MINI-1 helicopter is a low-cost, easy-to-build, flying machine. This  helicopter can carry a maximum payload of 300 pounds. With its 13-foot rotor, this helicopter can take off and land vertically, and it’s capable of reaching a top speed of 60 mph. With a weight (empty) of 150lbs no pilots license is needed!\u003cbr\u003eThe MINI-1 is not only amongst the most compact personal helicopters in the world, it is also the simplest to build and to fly. The control system of the MINI-1 is highly simplified, eliminating swash-plate and many other complex mechanisms. The aluminum tubing frame is computer designed for the highest strength per weight ratio. The MINI-1 is designed to adapt to a variety of power plants ranging from motorcycle and go-cart engines to ultralight airplane engines.\u003cbr\u003eDo these plans work? We don’t know….try out the plans and see for yourself!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNicely drawn plans. Lots of good info on ultralight helicopters.\u003cbr\u003eIncludes a materials list, sources, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tinker Source","offers":[{"title":"Digital Plans","offer_id":47920790012132,"sku":"MINI-1-HELICOPTER-PLAN-1","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Printed Plans","offer_id":47920790044900,"sku":"MINI-1-HELICOPTER-PLAN-2","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/files\/mini-1-helicopter-updated-corrected_5c5b05a2-952e-4cc6-99cb-e3530a93f7fb.png?v=1769277078"},{"product_id":"aw-hobbycopter-helicopter","title":"Adams Wilson Hobbycopter Helicopter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe AW Choppy is arguably one of the most famous homebuilt helis. Designed in the late 50’s, The AW Choppy was built to use commonly found materials that were readily available to consumers. The Choppy (also known as the Flying Triumph) was designed to use a motorcycle engine of about 50 hp for the powerplant. Various engines have been used. Some people have even used a snowmobile motor! More recent choppers commonly use an ultralight 2 cycle Rotax engine around 52 horsepower.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe AW Choppy is a single seat, open cockpit, frame fabrication helicopter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet the original plans to build the AW Hobbcopter. Also known as the AW Choppy, Flying Triumph, and the Hobbcopter. This helicopter is a TRUE helicopter with full cyclic control. Power is from a Rotax or motorcycle engine. NOTE: These plans are airworthy. There are flying Hobbycopters out there, as well as variants of this original design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tinker Source","offers":[{"title":"Digital Plans Download","offer_id":47920761635044,"sku":"AW-HOBBYCOPTER-HELICOPTER-PLAN-1","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Printed Plans","offer_id":47920761667812,"sku":"AW-HOBBYCOPTER-HELICOPTER-PLAN-2","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/files\/adams-wilson-hobbycopter-pic1-upscaled_0244f771-2125-45db-a3e7-d60405a28296.png?v=1771389179"},{"product_id":"sjh-osprey-homebuilt-helicopter","title":"The SJH-Osprey Homebuilt Helicopter","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis set of unique helicopter plans is exclusively provided by TinkerSource. We do not know where you can get them anywhere else. Originally drawn by Joel Levin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlans to build the SJH-Osprey, a single-person ultralight helicopter.\u003cbr\u003eAirframe construction calls for steel tubing or aircraft aluminum. Complete dimensions\/details are provided for building the airframe.\u003cbr\u003eThis helicopter is powered by two rotor-tip jet engines. Plans show overview construction details for ramjet and pulsejet powerplants.\u003cbr\u003eThese blueprints as a whole are more of an overview, but provide good and useful information for the construction of a homebuilt ultralight helicopter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tinker Source","offers":[{"title":"Digital Plans Download","offer_id":47920813179108,"sku":"THE-SJH-OSPREY-HOMEBUILT-HELICOPTER-PLAN-1","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Printed Plans","offer_id":47920813211876,"sku":"THE-SJH-OSPREY-HOMEBUILT-HELICOPTER-PLAN-2","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/files\/Screenshot2026-02-18130911.png?v=1771391360"},{"product_id":"xmh1-microlight-helicopter","title":"XMH1 Microlight Helicopter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe X-Microlight Helicopter 1 represents a novel form of blade-driven helicopter designs. The X-MH1 represents an important concept of “prop-driven” machines. Still in the development stage, these plans are not complete, but still contain enough information so you can start construction on your own propcopter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Microlight Helicopter’s design objective is to maximize the use of structure and engine power to lift a person with sufficient controls. X-MH1’s rotor blades are turned by the thrust from a pair of propeller engines. Unlike conventional helicopters in which blades are powered by an engine in the fuselage, X-MH1’s lifting disc is created without a reaction force (torque) exerting on the fuselage. This design eliminates tail rotor, clutch, reduction gears, and a larger engine to power the friction energy lost.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tinker Source","offers":[{"title":"Digital Plans Download","offer_id":47920807117028,"sku":"XMH1-MICROLIGHT-HELICOPTER-PLAN-1","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Printed Plans","offer_id":47920807149796,"sku":"XMH1-MICROLIGHT-HELICOPTER-PLAN-2","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/files\/Screenshot_2026-02-18_130808.png?v=1771391301"},{"product_id":"captive-copter","title":"The Captive Copter","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA TETHERED HELICOPTER FOR CHILDREN…YOU CAN BUILD RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere is a great way to introduce your children to the joys of flying.  These plans detail the construction of  a, “Captive Copter” flying machine that is a simply-built tethered helicopter. Youngsters of all ages can delight in flying a helicopter that is safe and fun. Whiz around in a giant 28 foot arc and go up and down. Kids will learn basic aerodynamic principles of thrust and how it is harnessed and used. Also learn how to perform a simplified “hover.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlans can be bought as a digital download, or purchased on printed media (paper or a data CD). Digital download is approx. 7mb These are vintage plans and as such, price estimates for materials and other things detailed in plans may be outdated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead a more in-depth explanation of the “Captive Copter” flying machine below. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tinker Source","offers":[{"title":"Digital Plans Download","offer_id":47921469718756,"sku":"THE-CAPTIVE-COPTER-1","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Printed Plans","offer_id":47921469751524,"sku":"THE-CAPTIVE-COPTER-2","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/files\/childrens-helicopter-homemade-tethered-copter-photo-girl.jpg?v=1771413765"},{"product_id":"the-omh-eagle-ultralight-helicopter","title":"The OMH-Eagle Ultralight Helicopter","description":"\u003cp\u003eDid you ever want to fly a helicopter? This easy to build one man home built helicopter can be made from standard parts that are available from your local hardware and auto parts store. Best of all, if you buy everything on the parts list, it will cost you less than a total of $500.00 (if you build the rotors, rotor head, and engines, yourself). No license is required to fly the helicopter; it weights less than 225 pounds, so it falls in the ultralight flight category that requires no pilot’s license. The OMH-Eagle ultralight heli uses two, specially-designed, jet powered, easy to build, engines mounted on the tips of the rotors. Starts with a push of a button, foot controls for the rudder, and has a motorcycle style handlebar controls for the rotors. This helicopter is very customizable and easy to build. Different people have built different variations. Visit the links page, for links to different builder sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEDITORS NOTE: In the hands of the novice, we would definitely classify this heli as a “death trap.” Make sure you read our disclaimer and understand it before buying\/building.  If you do manage to get this helicopter off the ground (which is highly unlikely) you do so at your own risk. These plans may not be 100% complete, and we don’t think that the tipjet engine design is very well engineered. It would be better to use the “Gluhareff tipjet engine.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tinker Source","offers":[{"title":"Digital Plans Download","offer_id":47920813867236,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Printed Plans","offer_id":47920813900004,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/files\/Screenshot_2026-02-18_131053.png?v=1771391466"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0100\/4004\/collections\/adams-wilson-hobbycopter-homebuilt-helicopter-photo.jpg?v=1773499701","url":"https:\/\/tinkersource.com\/collections\/helicopters.oembed","provider":"Tinker Source","version":"1.0","type":"link"}