Minicopter Available Soon

A Japanese company has built what it says is the world’s smallest helicopter, a futuristic-looking device that it plans to start selling over the Internet this summer. The compact copter, which seats one and can travel as fast as 60 miles per hour, was on display Friday at the Japan International Aerospace 2000 exhibition. Lacking the bubble-like body of a traditional helicopter, it looks like a chair with propellers attached. The passenger sits in the open with feet propped on a bar and hands on a horizontal rod used for steering. The helicopter will cost about $30,000 and will be sold via the company’s Web site in kit form.