Boss, can you provide rooftop parking?

April 3, 2000

Here's something that could make the morning commute a whole lot more interesting.

With the "world's smallest" one-seat, gasoline-powered helicopter, you could skip the gridlock and fly to work at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

The GEN H-4 helicopter is made of aluminum tubing and can travel for 30 to 60 minutes without refueling. The $30,000 machine (parachute included) was developed by Engineering System Co. Ltd., based in Nagano, Japan, and was displayed late last month at the Japan International Aerospace 2000 exhibition in Tokyo.

The company is in talks with US aviation authorities, and plans Internet sales aimed at the United States beginning in June.

Insurers take note: So far, no special operator's license is required.

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society