One of the niftiest machines at Oshkosh this year is a little
French helicopter, and it flew over from France. It flew over,
in the Airbus Beluga, with 4 historic airplanes. That having
been said, it's one of the most-interesting concepts and
executions extant. One of about 150 made ("That was a huge
production run for the type, and for the time," its owner
reminded us), the diminutive DJINN helicopter may make history
during Oshkosh this year. Its owner, French fighter pilot and
test pilot Gerard Guillaumaud (top), told us, "I bought it
because it is what a military pilot can afford... and for the
history, but mostly because it was in good condition, and
affordable." He has learned a lot about it since that time. The
Djinn weighs just 825 pounds empty, and double that weight,
grossed up; and it's jet-powered. It was the first turbine-
powered small helicopter in Europe, and probably the world, in
production (which started in 1954; this one's a '57). Igor
Sikorsky didn't think the drive concept would work, and