Wanna ride like a Stormtrooper in “Star Wars?” Flying bikes like these aren’t too far, far away.
Stormtroopers used them to get around on Endor in “Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi.” A state cop used one to pull over a young James Kirk in “Star Trek.” And soon, you may be able to use flying motorcycles to admire the fall foliage in Vermont or to hit the open road in Arizona.
Yes, flying motorcycles are moving from sci-fi staple to reality.
New Zealand engineer Chris Malloy, whose company is based in London, just waged a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign to fund his Hoverbike project. In just a couple of days, he received $105,000 in online donations, more than double his original goal. That allows his firm, Malloy Aeronautics, to continue on to the final design and testing needed to make the Hoverbike a reality.
The early Hoverbike. The new version has four rotors instead of the two pictured here (Photo: Malloy Aeronautics)
In its newest incarnation, the Hoverbike has four rotors that allow it to take off like a helicopter while providing the maneuverability and open-air freedom of a motorcycle.
Malloy recently said he based his initial design on those speeder bikes he saw as a kid in “The Return of the Jedi.”
Malloy’s not only designing Hoverbikes for manned flight, but he’s also exploring the idea of unmanned drones (Kickstarter donors who kicked in $980 or more will receive a 1/3-scale drone version of the Hoverbike). His demo video shows these drones delivering pizzas and dropping water on backyard barbecue fires.
But it’s the manned Hoverbikes that have captured our imagination. Just imagine the recreational uses; instead of renting scooters in places such as Florence, Italy, or Key West, Fla., the day may come when you’ll be able to rent Hoverbikes VIDEO
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