Builds aircrafts, conquers the skies
He is not an aircraft builder, yet the airplane he manufactured using cheap and alternative materials has drawn the attention of american companies that seek to exploit its commercial value.
A policeman from Florina, George Iliopoulos decided to occupy himself with aircraft building after he visited a relevant shop in Canada and someone gave him the idea of designing a special aircraft, made entirely of alternative and low-cost materials.
Mr Iliopoulos began to study and think of possible ways to realize this idea, keeping in mind that a failure might place him within the laudable category of people, who tried hard to build an aircraft that could hardly move on the ground. Yet his fears did not leave him paralyzed.
The first plane he built- named Lygistis-, was made of wood and other recycled materials. He took the wood from old furniture, transformed a wheelchair into a seat and used the mechanical parts of an old car engine. At this point, the project seemed to be reaching its end and he had stated that, since he succeeded in realizing his dream, he would not attempt it again, even if he was offered one million euros.
Nonetheless, in his head Iliopoulos never ceased to investigate the possibilities for new models, and soon came up with the concept of his next vehicle- an aircraft model made of used tin, at a scale of one to six. It took intensive studying, hard work and over 3000 edits of the initial plan until the aircraft could finally been built in real size from airplane aluminum. Eventually, “Archon” came to life and was actually capable of flying. During the first flight, its designer confessed he was so excited that he almost had a heart attack.
Nowadays, George Iliopoulos’s receives a steady influx of email from american companies seeking a collaboration, but he prefers to keep his intentions secret. Perhaps in his mind he is already designing his next project, his next flight.
Ιωάννης Γεωργίου / John Georgiou
-22/03/2016 5:02 am
Εύγε κ.Ιλιόπουλε! Έλληνες, Έλληνες ομογενείς καί άνθρωποι όλου τού κόσμου σάς θαυμάζουν για το κατόρθωμα σας. Από δείχνετε ό,τι η Ελλάδα έχει τήν πρωτοβουλία καί είναι ικανή νά αναπτυξει βιομηχανία υψηλής τεχνολογίας, όπως αεροσκάφη, έστω καί με περιορισμένα μέσα. Μακάρι ή νεότεροι Έλληνες νά ακολουθήσουν τό εξαιρετικό παράδειγμά σας. Μέ μεγάλη ανυπομονησία περιμένω να δώ ένα από τά “made in Greece” αεροσκάφη σας νά πετάει ωθούμενο από καθαρή ενέργεια μέ τήν χρήση τού αντιδραστήρα τού κ. Πέτρου Ζωγράφου. Μάς δίνετε τήν αίσθηση υπερηφάνειας γιά τήν σημερινή Ελλάδα!
Just in case you are unable to read my Greek writing (I have not written in Greek since almost 50 years), this message conveys my admiration for your achievements, and sets you as a role model for younger Greeks. Thank you for making us proud of Modern Greece.
ΖΗΣΗΣ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ
-26/11/2019 10:42 am
Συγχαρητηρια. Κριμα που το μυωπικο κρατος δεν βλεπει πως ο Αρχων θα μπορουσε να επισκοπει τις επικινδυνες περιοχες του χαρτη πυρκαγιων το θερος , να επιβλεπει την λαθρομεταναστευση κ αλλες αναγκες κατοπτευσης ανα την Ελληνικη επικρατεια.Εαν δε η προπελλα του κινητηρα ειχε και καθετη περιστροφη[για μερικως καθετη απογειωση] ισως κ τροποποιηση jet θα γινοταν αναρπαστο κ για τους ξενους αγοραστες Αληθεια αν καποιος ενδιαφερεται ποσο κοστιζει σε κιτ ο Αρχων αραγε? Πολλα μπραβο στον κ. Γιωργο Ηλιοπουλο ειμαι σιγουρος οτι η προσπαθεια θα εχει μελλον
Vasilis Farmaki’s
-30/08/2020 3:43 am
Συγχαρητήρια μήπως θέλεις να αναζητήσουμε επενδυτή .