Tag Archives: WorldRecord

NAA verifies new US record for human-powered helicopter flight (video)

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Recordbreaking humanpowered helecopter flight gets NAA verification

A team at the University of Maryland has been taking human powered flight to new heights. Or, rather, lengths, by setting a new US record for flight duration of 49.9 seconds with its Gamera II rotorcraft. The benchmark event actually took place in June, but only received the all important plaudits from the National Aeronautic Association on August 9. Gamera II builds on its predecessor (unsurprisingly, Gamera I) by featuring improved transmission, rotor design and a redesigned cockpit. Not content with smashing the previous craft's record of 11.4 seconds, the team plans to fly a further refined version of the copter with longer blades and other fine tuning later this month. The 49.9 second flight has also been submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale for World, rather than American-record verification. The guys at Maryland might want to keep an eye over their shoulders though, as it looks like someone else already has their eyes on that prize. Video evidence after the break.

Continue reading NAA verifies new US record for human-powered helicopter flight (video)

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NAA verifies new US record for human-powered helicopter flight (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GizMag  |  sourceAlfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center  | Email this | Comments

Production R8 e-tron sets lap record at Nürburgring, Audi gains more EV bragging rights

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Production R8 etron sets lap record at Nrburgring, Audi gets gains EV bragging rights

Suffice it to say, Audi's been garnering loads of press these past weeks for its e-tron vehicles. Hot on the heels of its recent, R18 e-tron-led victory at the 24-hour Le Mans, the automaker has set a world-record for production EVs at Germany's Nürburgring. Using an all-electric R8 production model, driver Markus Winkelhock zipped around the 12.92-mile course with a lap time of 8:09.099. For comparison's sake, the fastest lap by a gasoline-powered production car of about seven minutes and 57 seconds is currently held by the Gumpert Apollo Sport -- which just-so-happens to use an 700 hp (515 kW) Audi V8 motor. According to Audi, the R8 used is essentially identical to what will be released to the public later this year, featuring two electric motors that pump out 280kW of power and 820Nm of torque. That said, Autoblog notes that its limiter was set to 155 mph (250 kph) -- when you can buy one it'll be set to top out at 125 mph (200 kph). Hit up the press release after the break for all the details.

Update: We incorrectly mixed up mph with kph on the max speeds. We've adjusted the numbers.

Continue reading Production R8 e-tron sets lap record at Nürburgring, Audi gains more EV bragging rights

Production R8 e-tron sets lap record at Nürburgring, Audi gains more EV bragging rights originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed record, captures the run with camera-equipped Recon

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Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed Guinness World Record, captures the run with cameraequipped Recon video

We know Quebec well for its maple syrup, poutine and fresh mountain air, but the French Canadian province also has a more sprightly side, renewing our neighbor to the north's status in the athletic arena from time to time as well. This month, it's BC native Mischo Erban, who broke a Guinness World Record for the "fastest skateboard speed from a standing position" with a 129.94 km/h (80.74 mph) downhill run. Better yet, Erban caught the record-breaking journey with his custom-built Recon heads-up display / camera combo mounted inside a rather beastly jet-black helmet. The Android-powererd HUD theoretically enabled Erban to know he broke the record before he even came to a stop, while also motivating him to keep pushing as he approached that 130 kilometers-per-hour top speed. There's no way to replicate the feeling of flying down a hill aboard a skateboard at 80 miles-per-hour without hopping on some wheels of your own, but you can get a taste of the action in the new record holder's POV video after the break.

Continue reading Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed record, captures the run with camera-equipped Recon

Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed record, captures the run with camera-equipped Recon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hardest working man on the internet passes one million Wikipedia edits

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Justin Knapp is probably the hardest working man on the internet after becoming the first person to pass the million-edit-mark on Wikipedia. Since 2005, he's made around 385 amendments per day, each one taking him around four minutes [Citation Needed]. Founder Jimmy Wales congratulated the 30-year-old on his personal feed and Mr. Knapp's been awarded the site's Special Barnstar medal and Golden Wiki award for his achievement. He took the news with a good dose of self-deprecating humor, saying that "being suddenly and involuntarily unemployed will do that to you." Hopefully there's a certificate wining its way in the post from the Guinness people.

Hardest working man on the internet passes one million Wikipedia edits originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Telegraph  |  sourceJimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Justin Knapp (Wikipedia)  | Email this | Comments