The Piasecki PA-97 Helistat was an American experimental heavy-lift aircraft, built by Piasecki by fastening four H-34J helicopters to a framework beneath a helium-inflated blimp envelope. The sole prototype was destroyed during a test flight, killing a test pilot and injuring another four in the course of a single incident in 1986.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piasecki_PA-97_Helistat

NSFW Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KY3A2HlbzQ - it's barely off the ground when it crashes at ~1:00.

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[–] Abracadaniel@hexbear.net 11 points 1 month ago

Piasecki Aircraft has built a total of 5 aircraft between 1959 and 2024. This was one of them. The company was founded after Frank Piasecki was ousted from Piasecki Helicopter. Piasecki Helicopter focused on multi rotor lift helicopters (frank wanted to pursue compound helicopters) and was acquired by Boeing in 1987, they went on to produce the famous "Chinook" helicopter.