Fredrick Onyango, 25, has never set foot inside a classroom. He cannot even write properly.
However, his innovative mind is one-of-a-kind. He is now putting the final touches on a solar-powered helicopter along Ngara’s Quarry Road. That genius is now the talk of town.
The contraption that he has been building for more than eight months has begun roaring to life, frequently attracting crowds, though he is yet to test-fly it.
“I was born in Kisumu. I came to the city more than 10 years ago. I started life as street boy before honing my innovative skills,” the father of three he told The Nairobian.
Onyango started by dismantling old computers and studying how they were made, then started fixing them. His interest has seen him deal in computer hardware and other electronics.
“I would buy old and spoilt hard disks, study them then fix them. I would buy them for Sh50 or Sh100, fix them then sell them for Sh1,000 or more,” he said.
His popularity rose when he started building the helicopter, with people questioning his ability. The medium-sized helicopter can accommodate one person.
One of its components is a modified water pump engine. It is solar-powered and the roof consists of solar panels, which also supply power to the main engine.
“The roof is made of 18 solar panels, each generating 12 volts. I modified the water pump engine with different gears to strengthen and enable it run like a helicopter engine. At the moment, it can reach a speed of up to 240km per hour,” he said.
He adds that, “I installed 10 CCTV cameras controlled by special laptop on the dashboard; others are meant to check the main propeller and the back one in case they develop problems. I’ve tested the helicopter on the ground and it is very powerful. No one even dares come close during tests,” he explained.
Just like the airplane, the dashboard has speedometers, radio, and medium-sized laptop on the roof, small network mast and buttons to control its movements.
“I modified the radio so that there is no interference with other frequencies, especially official government ones. I can receive and broadcast to other countries, meaning my network mast is powerful enough” he explained.
Onyango who deals in computer products and other electronics when not busy working on the helicopter, reveals that the venture has cost him more than Sh100,000. He says his intention is to not only see the helicopter fly, but also prove his innovative skills and impart knowledge on willing youth.
“It might take sometimes to complete since I am working on it slowly. I have to buy some gadgets and parts one at time but I’m willing to train other people for free because no one taught me anything about electronics,” he said.
