Russian Inventor Vladimir Trapeznikov Dies in Homemade Helicopter Crash

On July 31, 2025, Vladimir Trapeznikov, an 88-year-old self-taught inventor from the Omutninsky district in Russia’s Kirov Region, died in a tragic accident while testing his latest homemade helicopter in the village of Zalazna. The Volga Region Transport Prosecutor’s Office reported that during engine startup, while still on the ground, the helicopter’s main rotor blades detached as power built, causing fatal head trauma to Trapeznikov. He was rushed to Omutninsky District Hospital but succumbed to his injuries hours later.

Trapeznikov, born in 1937, was a former log truck driver who gained local fame for building five aircraft, fueled by a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. His earlier success flying a homemade airplane earned him a feature in a 1985 “Panorama” cinema and TV newsreel. The unregistered helicopter, his fifth creation, was under investigation by authorities to determine the cause of the structural failure.

Known for his ingenuity, Trapeznikov’s story resonated widely, with social media posts on X reflecting both sorrow and admiration for his relentless pursuit of flight. One user described him as dying “pursuing his vision,” while another highlighted the tragedy of the “flying dream” ending in a fatal rotor blade strike. His tale echoes other DIY aviators, like a UK man who built a plane during the COVID-19 pandemic and an Ethiopian who crafted an aircraft for his 2015 wedding.

Trapeznikov’s death has sparked mixed sentiments: some view him as a bold dreamer, others as a risk-taker who pushed beyond safety limits. Regardless, his legacy as a symbol of passion and determination endures, even as his final flight ended in tragedy.

Source: African Publicity