# Flying Paddlewheeler!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-paddlewheeler/440701>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 9, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-paddlewheeler/440701 "2008-03-09T06:26:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-paddlewheeler/440701/1 "2008-03-09T06:26:28Z")

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[Who says old ideas are worthless?](http://gizmodo.com/360271/paddle+wheel-propeller-designs-take-flight-115-years-late)

> [@](#):
>
> Researchers in Singapore have demoed a flying model that uses a strange paddle-wheel-like propeller design that was first patented in 1893. The cyclogyro’s flat whirling propeller-blades look like the comical contraptions built in the years before and after the Wright brothers flights, but could potentially be more efficient and quieter than those currently used on aircraft.

Supposedly, there’s a company working on them as UAVs for the US military as well.