Almost a hundred years ago, when automobile manufacturing was taking its first steps, curious phenomena were observed in this field from the perspective of our contemporary. Today it goes without saying that an automobile is a vehicle with a gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine (ICE). But in those days, firstly, the automobile was considered Read more…
What is the microplane “Wasp” created by Kronstadt craftsmen? At first glance, it seems there is nothing new in it. A strut-braced high-wing monoplane, a scheme that has become the most popular among amateur designers. This very scheme was the basis for the microplanes “Leningradets” by N. Tatsiturny, “Malysh” by L. Komarov, “Sputnik” by V. Read more…
During 1970, our magazine published a series of articles by a group of autogyro designers about the features of building these rotary-wing aircraft, about how to build autogyro models, how to fly gyrogliders towed by a boat or car. At the request of numerous readers, we tell in this issue about the autogyro control system Read more…
Throughout most of the Cold War, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and the Socialist Republic of Romania (SRR) were the most “rebellious children” in the family of socialist countries. Yugoslavia, under the leadership of Marshal Tito, not only did not join the Eastern Bloc but was one of the key countries of the Read more…
After the end of World War I, Czechoslovakia found itself in a unique situation. It inherited a powerful industry from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including automotive, comparable to Germany and France. However, the volume of the domestic market of the new state was small, and to survive, automakers had to focus on exports. In the early Read more…
“In recent times, hang gliders have become popular — unique successors to gliders. Hang gliders quickly won the love of our youth, and with it, the right to exist. Naturally, there is a desire to install a small boat or motorcycle engine on a hang glider to fly not only in updrafts…” This statement belongs Read more…
Numerous gatherings of amateur aircraft designers brought together hundreds of small aviation enthusiasts, and this clearly showed that interest in designing amateur aircraft is enormous. However, in many cases, an insoluble problem for ultralight aircraft enthusiasts is the engine problem — powerful, light, compact, and economical. I believe that if industry produced such engines, small Read more…
Residents of villages and small towns, where asphalt roads have not yet reached and where “Volgas” and “Moskviches” start skidding after just a few meters past the outskirts in rainy weather or spring mud, have long dreamed of such a vehicle. Compact, maneuverable, economical to operate, and highly off-road capable — that’s how rural drivers Read more…
Sometimes, genius hides in a garage. That’s exactly what happened with Andrea Marazzi — a mechanic from the Italian town of Bagnolo Cremasco. Imagine this: an ordinary 1993 Fiat Panda suddenly becomes an internet sensation because… it was made hilariously narrow. Not just narrow — just 50 centimeters wide! It’s no joke — it’s both Read more…
When a tech giant releases its first SUV, it’s already an event. The Xiaomi YU7 is not just a car, but an attempt to turn the idea of what a modern luxury electric car should be like upside down. Having shown this crossover to the public for the first time, Xiaomi relied on bold design, Read more…
