Australian Unveils Prototype Hoverbike

[Aerograt]

As the site points out, here in the US the hoverbike would be classified as an "ultralight," meaning that prospective riders (pilots?) would not need a pilot's license.

Okay, I did not just read that. A flying vehicle is not the same as a ground vehicle since it is designed to go vertically in the air, why the hell wouldn't it need its own license? Also consider that it can apparently go almost twice as fast as a normal car. I can already picture it, "Teenager crashes hover bike into diner. Kills twenty people and three babies"

 

[Innegativeion]

"Teenager crashes hover bike into diner. Kills twenty people and three babies"

Welcome to the future and BASK IN ITS GLORY!

 

[Clankenbeard]

I'll agree with the skeptical. I believe the thing has enough thrust to hold up a rider. I don't believe that it can stay upright without those tie-down straps. I see no way to prevent a barrel roll into concussionville. I see in one photo they are getting by on four tie-downs with only one tight. This is outside with high light--I'm guessing it is an "in-between" shot during a takeoff. (Also, the rider's organic landing gear are partially deployed.)

If it IS real...one hour of flight time on a 30L tank is a pretty expensive ride. Still, it IS a friggin' hoverbike!

 

[proctorninja2]

SO MUCH WANT TAKE MY MONEY NOW!

 

[Sporky111]

I'm sure it has enough thrust to take off when it's tethered, but it won't be stable. With a rider on there it'll be too topheavy and would probably just tip over.

 

[Aerograt]

"Teenager crashes hover bike into diner. Kills twenty people and three babies"

Welcome to the future and BASK IN ITS GLORY!

When this thing hits 88 miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit.

 

[UltraXan]

Just watch. One day, they'll start to look like this:

THEN I'm gonna jizz in my pants.

 

[Bob the frantic]

It sure beats Vegemite.

LIES! LIES AND SLANDER! Nothing beats the almighty Vegimite... but this is a close second.
Must learn how to ride a motorbike so I can ride this. One more thing to add to the list of purchases

 

[similar.squirrel]

Colour me sceptical.
But if it does exist, the noise, fuel-consumption and manoeuvrability can't be too great.

 

[IndianaJonny]

*sigh* So no Thunderbirds just yet then.

 

[Aeshi]

I'm calling this a fake until there's a video of it actually doing what he claims it does.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Here's a big problem..

How does it achieve forward motion for its 170mph speed? The 'lifting' fans are on a fixed mounting and the housing they're contained it would disrupt airflow if they were used for forward flight.

 

[Trogdor1138]

Next to incredibly attractive blonde women and Paul Hogan [http://www.amazon.com/Crocodile-Dundee-Los-Angeles/dp/B000QUEQ6S], this may be the greatest thing Australia has ever given the world.

It sure beats Vegemite.

Yep accurate points, except vegemite is awesome. Americans over react to it so much, and if you eat it out of the jar in front of them it is hilarious. In all seriousness vegemite is awesome.

As for hover bike, sounds dumb

To add to this, it's fun to do it on purpose to foreigners. Just tell them to take a big spoonful. They're so gullible and the look on their face is like they just swallowed poison. It's great.

But yeah, Australian people have always wanted hoverbikes, probably since Return of the Jedi.

As another said, WANT.

 

[Ramin 123]

Next to incredibly attractive blonde women and Paul Hogan [http://www.amazon.com/Crocodile-Dundee-Los-Angeles/dp/B000QUEQ6S], this may be the greatest thing Australia has ever given the world.

It sure beats Vegemite.

Yep accurate points, except vegemite is awesome. Americans over react to it so much, and if you eat it out of the jar in front of them it is hilarious. In all seriousness vegemite is awesome.

As for hover bike, sounds dumb

Marmite...yes please. It's the exact same isn't it?

 

[walsfeo]

This thing looks like a movie prop, not an actual real-world invention.

 

[OrenjiJusu]

YES! Soon we shall all have the option to ride our hoverbikes into trees and explode in a glorious plasma filled fireball!

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Ladies and gentlemen, we are one step closer to the the speeder bike chase scene from Return of the Jedi.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Does he have a patent? If not, it would make sense to keep it under wraps for now. Either way, this is really suspicious.

I'm wondering how he tested 10,000 feet and 170mph. That seems like a very highball estimate rather than being backed by actual tests.

A hoverbike designed by fans is possible. You can build a hovercraft yourself with an engine, a large fan, and some plywood. However, those are usually quite slow. I'm also wondering how he controls the thing.