Hate your daily commute? Try a hoverbike!

[AAJagerX]

I can't wait to see a production model.  Apparently it's classified as an ultralight.  For safety, the bike and the rider can both be equipped with parachutes.  Just too cool!
   


Engine Type flat twin 4-stroke, one camshaft and 4-valves per cylinder, central balancer shaft
Engine Displacement 1170cc
Bore & Stroke 101mm x 73mm
Compression Ratio 12.0:1
Nominal Output @7500rpm 80KW
Cooling Aircooled
Ignition Electronic
Fuel System Electronic intake pipe injection
Fuel tank capacity (without secondary tanks) 30L 
Fuel tank capacity (with secondary tanks) 60L
Fuel Burn 0.5L/min / 30L/hr
Fuel Type Regular Unleaded
Drive-shafts Custom Carbon fiber
Gearbox Custom 1.5:1 reduction
Propellers 2 x Tasmanian Oak with carbon fiber leading edge (made by Michael Ellinas from Heliptera)
Airframe Carbon fiber with Kevlar reinforcement and foam core
Airframe width 1.3m
Airframe length 3m
Airframe height 0.55m
Dry Weight 105kg
Maximum takeoff weight 270kg
Total Thrust 295kg
Range 148km on primary tank @ 80knts cruise (290km with secondary tanks installed)
Airspeed Vne 150 KIAS (untested) 
Hover greater than 10,000ft (estimated)

http://www.hover-bike.com/index.html

[Reaper90]

The thought of being at an altitude on that thing where a parachute would actually deply is............. well, terrifying!

[gyrene81]

   parachute? no thanks...  nope, not gonna happen, you can't make me... 

[AAJagerX]

The thought of being at an altitude on that thing where a parachute would actually deply is............. well, terrifying!

I think I'd feel safer at parachute altitude than at 20 or 30 feet off the ground.  I'm not sure what the regulations are for ultralight operation at low altitude.  Scary or not, I want.

[100Coogn]

I think we as a people, should work on our current means of transportation, before
getting ahead of ourselves.

Coogan

[Penguin]

Man, is that thing going to be LOUD!

-Penguin

[colmbo]

The thought of being at an altitude on that thing where a parachute would actually deply is............. well, terrifying!

The scary part would be between "high enough to hurt you" and "high enough for parachute to work".

[AAJagerX]

Man, is that thing going to be LOUD!

-Penguin

Watch the test video, it's really not too bad.  They're working on a 5 bladed prop to replace the single blade to further reduce noise as well.  I doubt that it would be any louder than a Harley with straight pipes.  

[AAJagerX]

The scary part would be between "high enough to hurt you" and "high enough for parachute to work".

Too true.  The pucker factor there may actually be high enough to change coal to diamond.

[morfiend]

 It looks like a BMW motorcycle engine thats used to power the hover bike,I could be wrong but it sure looks like 1.


   Interesting device,wonder what they'd do it people actually started commuting with these things!




   

[USRanger]

They should have flown those to go in and get Osama!

[F22RaptorDude]

They should have flown those to go in and get Osama!

[Tac]

errr... wouldnt a wind gust literally toss that thing into uncontrollable flight?

[rpm]

True rotorhead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W3gamijezc