Flightless drone created by 80-year-old mechanic is a work-of-art [video]

A flightless drone created by an 80-year-old mechanic is truly a work-of-art. The unmanned aircraft consists of 265 handcrafted pieces, 362 screws, and 1,560 hours of work and you can admire it in the video below.

Flightless drone created by an 80-year-old mechanic is a work-of-art

80-year-old, scale model enthusiast José Manual Hermo Barreiro, also known as Patelo, is a retired naval mechanic is passionate and very skilled as you can see in the video below. Reportedly, he does not hold an engineering degree, but that has not stopped him from building a beautiful flightless drone.

Every cylinder in this functioning, flightless drone is powered by a pneumatic motor (using air pressure). Every component of this beautiful hexacopter from its propellers, its valves, its brass-framed plexiglass windows to the crankshaft is made with passion and great attention to detail. Especially the end of the video when you see the drone in operation is simply breathtaking.

Patelo first created the flightless drone project on paper, making his own set of hand-drawn blueprints. Unfortunately, some of the engineering project could not be filmed as it took place during the coronavirus lockdown. However, you can still see some of the handcrafting and assembly of the crankshaft, flywheel, camshaft, propellers, and other parts.

Patelo is 80 years old and lives in Galicia, Spain. Interesting Engineering reports that when asked about his dream Patelo says “My biggest thrill would’ve been to make an engine room for a transatlantic ship. To make motors, joined by two gears with two variable pitch propellers.”

Be sure to check out the other videos on his YouTube channel where he shows a W32 engine working and a range of other amazing engineering projects. Hats off to Mr. Patelo!

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