Let’s admit it—at some point in our childhood, we all dreamed of turning our ceiling fans into helicopters. Well, if you wish to relive this fond memory, then these two brothers’ experiment will surely excite the inner child in you. This DIY helicopter ceiling fan by Joe and Jim Burlas is certainly the dream of kids and kids at heart with a passion for aviation.
So, how did this ingenious idea start? Apparently, while casually browsing on Facebook one day, Joe stumbled upon a few photos of a makeshift aircraft fan. Instead of the usual cap, the fan featured a toy helicopter at the bottom. In turn, this created the illusion that the helicopter is in a perpetual hover whenever the fan is turned on.
Being an aviation enthusiast, the concept of the modified fan impressed Joe in an instant. In fact, he even considered it as the “coolest ceiling fan” he has ever seen. He then shared the photos with his brother Jim who was equally fascinated.
This DIY helicopter ceiling fan by brothers Joe and Jim Burlas is certainly the dream of kids and kids at heart with a passion for aviation
Lo and behold, a few days later, Jim sent Joe photos of the materials he had purchased to create their own “helifan.” So, the brothers went on and built their own version. They were kind enough to share the materials they used, and they even recorded the entire process and uploaded the video on YouTube.
In a blog post, Joe listed the materials they used for their version of “helifan.” These included a ceiling fan, a 1:6 scale OH-6 cayuse helicopter, and an OD (olive drab) green spray paint. They also included a military action figure to serve as the pilot of the rotorcraft. As for the tools, they used a 1/4-inch drill and a 2.5-inch screw to integrate the aircraft into the fan.
They started off by spray painting the ceiling fan to match the helicopter’s color. Afterward, they removed the rotor blades of the toy aircraft as well as the bottom cap of the fan. Using a drill and a screw, they then mounted the fan’s cap on top of the aircraft, in place of its rotor blades. Finally, they reinstalled the modified cap with the helicopter attachment back to the bottom portion of the fan.
You may check out Joe’s blog for the detailed list of the materials they used and where to buy them. You may also watch the instructional video below to see the amazing “helifan” in action. Likewise, feel free to follow along with their tutorial to create your own version at home. We bet this makeshift helicopter fan would make the perfect companion to this helicopter bed!
Source: Joe Burlas Website | YouTube