https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/after-three-years-on-mars-nasas-ingenuity-helicopter-mission-ends/
While the helicopter remains upright and in communication with ground controllers, imagery of its Jan. 18 flight sent to Earth this week indicates one or more of its rotor blades sustained damage during landing, and it is no longer capable of flight.
Originally designed as a technology demonstration to perform up to five experimental test flights over 30 days, the first aircraft on another world operated from the Martian surface for almost three years, performed 72 flights, and flew more than 14 times farther than planned while logging more than two hours of total flight time.
Well, it certainly surpassed expectations. RIP Ingenuity, you did well.
I had way less hours than that on my last rc heli before I broke a rotor. That bird had a pretty good run, I'd say.
R.c. Heli has to be one of the hardest friggin hobbies. I'd guess flying a real helicopter to be easier.
That they had one flying on it's own on another planet is the only thing that gives me hope they might make one I could fly here on earth. (Not a quad coptor, those things are very stable)
I struggle to tell you that I like it. Flying a full collective heli is stressful. Fixed pitch wasn't any easier.I very seldom put more than one battery through it. That's 8 minutes-ish. Exhausted.
I like little airplanes better.