I’m obsessed with learning to fly, helicopters and airplanes. I know a few people with their licenses and it sounds like a blast… real freedom… like owning your own time machine.
The HeliHouse sits on top of a mountain. It would be built modularly one piece at a time. Each sub-2000 pound modular element is flown in by helicopter and assembled on site.
The foundation sits on micropiles like a powerline tower. These five inch concrete pylons are drilled into the ground and filled with concrete and steel so that a platform can be attached.
On top of this, a simple metal frame is attached and clad in mirrored glass. The mirrored walls would make it virtually invisible and blend into the natural landscape except for moments when the sun would reflect off the surface making it stand out like a jewel.
The interior is small, just 16′ x 16′. It’s one room except for a glassed-in bathroom and an alcove for a micro kitchen. The bed is tucked in below the floor and rises into place when it’s time to turn the living room into a bedroom.
The roof is 24′ x 24′ which is just big enough for a small helicopter to land. Rails around the helipad retract during landing operations and a staircase extends when the pilot and passengers need to descend to the house level.
A large deck extends in front of the home so the visitors can exit the elevated house and explore the surrounding wilderness.
Power would be provided by a solar array and lithium battery bank located on the mechanical level below the main living space. Also located in this space is a composting toilet system separating the occupants from their daily business as well as a rainwater collection tank for supplying potable water.
Heating would be provided by its passive solar design and an aircraft diesel-powered heater – similar to a marine or RV space heater. Turbine helicopters are powered by Jet-A fuel which is essentially kerosene, or a lighter-weight type of diesel fuel. The helicopter could offload a position of its reserve to keep the home’s diesel tanks topped off. The entire assembly would be completely self sufficient except for the kerosene powered backup heating fuel.
Visitors could fly in and stay for as long as they have food to feed them. This is an extreme tiny house design, to say the least, but fun food for thought.