Would you ride a hoverbike if you could? Some Aussie made a working prototype.

[Electric Monk]

http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/autos/exotic/hoverbike.asp

Inventor Begins Testing a 'Star Wars' Hoverbike. An Australian man has invented what he says is the world's first flying motorbike, and is building it in his garage. The Hoverbike is claimed to be able to reach a theoretical height of 10,000 feet - really - and fly at 100 miles per hour. It's based on much the same principles as a twin-propeller helicopter such as Boeing's Chinook. Christopher Malloy says he's been building the vehicle for the last two years, using a custom-built carbon-fiber airframe and BMW engine. He's now at the testing stage, although so far he's only flown it tethered to the ground, at an altitude of just a few feet."With the limited ground testing done thus far the hoverbike has preformed exactly as predicted," he says. "Because we do not know 100 percent what might happen during testing, the straps are there to cover the unknown. The hoverbike is quite stable and does not want to tip over - however, if something unplanned happens during testing, we don't want to break our prototype!"The Hoverbike's designed with triple redundancy, says Malloy - three components need to fail before there could be a serious accident. If anything does go wrong, two parachutes are built into the airframe, he says.Eventually, Malloy aims to sell the Hoverbike commercially, at a price of around $50,000. He sees uses in cattle mustering and search and rescue, as well as good old fun. It shouldn't need a pilot's license in most countries, including the US, as it would be classed as an ultralight vehicle.

That looks like crazy fun

[Confusious]

1. Awesome

I could use one. If I had 50 grand lying around.

[madokie]

2. I'd fly/ride it in a heatbeat

whichever the case may be. It looks to me like it would be a blast to ride.

[RebelOne]

3. I'd try it, but I would not buy one for $50,000.

I could buy a single-engine plane for a lot less.

[Politicalboi]

4. He probably got the idea from this

The Flintstone Flyer. My favorite cartoon as a kid.

[PoliticAverse]

5. You notice that there's no actual video of the device in operation there, right ? n/t

[Electric Monk]

7. Actually, if you follow the link at the top, there is video of it running, but still strapped down.

If anyone can find video of it running and not tethered, please share

[jp11]

13. It is also not fully in frame nor clear it isn't supported by something.

I don't see why if someone would put that much effort/time/money into something they wouldn't have multiple videos of it in action tethered or not.

[Zanzoobar]

15. I've seen some vids.

But none exceeding ground effect. It has a long way to go.

[XemaSab]

17. You have a link?

I'm of the mind that there must be something wrong with it for there not to be video.

[Zanzoobar]

18. There is something wrong with it.

It only has two-dimensional control. It needs three-dimentional control to be useful. Unless the machine has ducted fans or some other way to control the rotation, it's a toy. Worthless.

The vids I saw are those in this thread. I didn't see them until after I posted.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Nothing spells excitement like dangling my nuts over a turbofan blade!

PB

[coalition_unwilling]

20. DUZY! - n/t

[Fumesucker]

8. ...

[Zalatix]

9. If they upgrade it with A Casimir-style repulsorlift engine.

[Egalitarian Thug]

10. Hells yes. n/t

[Chipper Chat]

11. Only if Michael J Fox will try it out for me

to the tune of "Mr. Sandman" by the Ames Brothers.

[Skittles]

12. the Zombie Head bowling balls are cool too

[TlalocW]

14. Man, that video really captured the excitement...

Of hauling and taking pictures of something in different locales in Australia.

TlalocW

[TahitiNut]

16. That 'video' is almost identical to the slide show of the traveling ..

... garden gnome.

[Blue Owl]

19. Is Ned Flanders in the closet with a comb and wax paper?

n/t