The beginning of hovercraft motorcycles?

[PurpleGaga27 40]

Australian Builds 170-mph Hovercraft with Motorcycle Engine

 

Pentagon is interested in tinkerer's invention

 

By Greg Wilson

 

An Australian inventor tinkering in his garage has created a flying motorcycle he calls a "hoverbike," which he estimates can reach speeds of 170 miles per hour and an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Christopher Malloy's futuristic vehicle is powered by a 1170 cc, 4-stroke BMW engine and can go nearly 100 miles on one tank of fuel, according to the Daily Mail. So far, he's only tested it while tethered to the ground.

"I am still ground testing at the moment only because I'm not 100 percent sure what will happen so the straps are there to cover the unknown," said Malloy, who plowed his life savings into the project. "I haven't had the pleasure of flying round the countryside yet."

According to Malloy's website, his invention has gotten the attention of some powerful folks. He said Wednesday that officials from the Pentagon visited him in October to check out a demonstration of the Hoverbike.

The one-seater vehicle has a frame of Kevlar-reinforced carbon fiber in between two horizontal spinning propellers constructed from Tasmanian Oak, according to Gizmag. The diver controls it with motorcycle-style handlebars. Malloy says it employs the same basic flying principles as a tandem-rotor Chinook helicopter, in which counter-rotating rotors cancel out each other's torque reaction, eliminating the need for a tail rotor.

He plans to go into full flight testing this summer after some design changes and upgrades have been completed, according to futurecars.com.

Malloy figures the craft could sell for somewhere around $40,000, with the price falling if production increases. In the United States, it would be classified as an ultralite, meaning users would not require a pilot's license.

Malloy hopes to be able to get the Hoverbike into limited production within a year. Oh, and when he finally cuts the tethers, he'll have two parachutes in case something goes wrong.

 

Source: http://www.nbclosang...-134110378.html

 

Picture:

 

The last time I had seen hovercraft motorcycles was in the 2006 movie "The Island". But this one sure looks real for the future.

Edited November 18, 2011 by zocom7

[Luk3us 63]

I know I wouldn't want to be sitting on that thing at 10,000ft in the air.

[Sonic 296]

Australian made.... I wouldn't trust it

[Nmenth 291]

If "he's only tested it while tethered to the ground", it is rather bold of them to label it a 170-mph Hovercraft based off his estimates of "170 miles per hour and an altitude of 10,000 feet".

[Malevolence 6]

Australian made.... I wouldn't trust it

Haha nice one mate!

[klandri 2]

I demand this for Christmas.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

I doubt this would be viable. The logistics for a true hovering vehicle is just... too much for current technology.

[Luk3us 63]

Hehe, drink driving, means drink flying.

[Chimas 7]

I doubt this would be viable. The logistics for a true hovering vehicle is just... too much for current technology.

 

It might be.

The "riders" is that will "might not be viable".

We simply can't stop having children.

It's already difficult on the ground ...

[Doctor Destiny 41]

I direct your attention here: http://www.cracked.com/article_15655_5-awesome-sci-fi-inventions-that-would-actually-suck.html

Just read #5; explains why flying cars or motorcycles are actually a bad idea right now.

[Guest Rabbit]

Pentagon is interested.

 

Pentagon buys patent.

 

Guy required to stop building.

 

Hovercraft NEVER hits market. Period.

 

 

...And if, you say, the guy might very well say "naw bro, I don't want to sell this ****!" Then the pentagon will say "Hey, here's twenty million dollars." And the guy will change his mind in a heartbeat. I most certainly would. Can you say you wouldn't?