[2] At the time the world record was of 19.46 seconds of flight at 0.2 m (7.9 in) altitude made by the Yuri I helicopter developed by Nihon University.

[3][4] University of Maryland professor Fred Schmitz proposed an attempt at the prize for the engineering students, with Inderjit Chopra leading the effort.

[5] The requirements to win the Sikorsky Prize include achieving a flight duration of 60 seconds and reaching an altitude of 3 m (9 ft 10 in).

Composite materials are assembled using filament winding construction for maximum strength to stiffness ratios.

The pilot and powerplant for the Sikorsky record attempt is 24-year-old life sciences graduate student Judy Wexler.

[11][12] On 13 July 2011 the Gamera I (piloted again by Wexler) was certified by the National Aeronautic Association, and later the FAI[13] to have flown in controlled hover for 11.4 seconds.