VietNamNet Bridge – The two helicopters made by Tran Quoc Hai, a Vietnamese farmer and mechanic in the Mekong Delta, have never been flown. One of them was part of an exhibition in Australia, while the other was sold to a museum in the US.

Tran Quoc Hai has become well known to all Vietnamese as the mechanic who successfully manufactured armored vehicles for the Cambodian army and received a medal from the Cambodian government.

However, Hai is also the author of many other inventions, including the two helicopters he made five years ago.

After Hai made the helicopters, he received scientists and officials from government agencies who came to see them.

“No one believed that Vietnamese could manufacture helicopters,” Hai said. “A delegation of PhDs and leaders of 11 ministries came and raised a lot of questions about the manufacturing and the operation principles of the helicopters.”

As Hai could answer all the questions, he later was asked to go to Hanoi, where he was interviewed by Professor Dr. Nguyen The Mich from the Hanoi University of Technology.

Later, he met another delegation of scientists, all of them graduates from foreign prestigious universities. A lot of questions were raised, which were, once again, answered by Hai.

After many “tests” and “inquiries”, two helicopters made by Hai and his son were put into test before two lieutenant general, a brigadier general, tens of colonels and many professors and doctors. The propellers were activated and began spinning fast.

“I thought that the scientists and military officers who were interested in my helicopters would create favorable conditions for me to continue studying,” Hai said.

The helicopters have not received a license to take off in Vietnam.

One of the helicopters was sold to MOMA, a museum in the US. Hai has spent the money from the sale of the helicopter on his further studies.

The other one was displayed at an exhibition in Australia in December 2006, where it, together with the two models created by an Australian and a Chinese, were recognized as promising designs at the exhibition.

Continuing the “helicopter dream”

Hai, who has successfully made armoured cars and farming machines, said he would never give up the dream of manufacturing helicopters.

“The Cambodian authorities have promised to create most favorable conditions for me to continue making the half-finished helicopter,” Hai said. “I will receive the necessary support, including the financial support.”

 “This will be a helicopter operating on a completely different principle. During the flight, even if troubles occur with the engine and the helicopter falls down, the crew will be safe,” Hai said.

Dat Viet