In this video produced for a Malloy Aeronautics Kickstarter campaign, the company showed how a one-third scale model of a new 'hoverbike' design works and moves.
A flying bike, like the one ridden by Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi, could soon be a reality, thanks to a Kiwi designer and his team.
Chris Malloy of Malloy Aeronautics (MA) has teamed up with a defence firm to develop hoverbike technology for the US Department of defence, the company announced today.
MA has an ongoing research and development contract with the US Army Research Laboratory to create the hoverbike, which will be used for tactical reconnaissance.
Testing on the full-sized design. Photo / www.hover-bike.com
MA, which was based in the UK, has now opened an office in Maryland in the Unites States.
MA has developed a smaller version of the hoverbike for retail that operates as a drone, but wanted to develop a model that can withstand the weight of an adult.
A prototype has been created but was not in its final stages yet.
The hoverbike was designed to replace the need for helicopters in certain situations such as herding cattle, MA said on its website.
"The Hoverbike is the result of years worth of [work]," the website said.
"We combined the simplicity of a motorbike and the freedom of a helicopter to create the world's first flying motorcycle.
"When compared with a helicopter, the Hoverbike is cheaper, more rugged and easier to use - and represents a whole new way to fly."
The prototype consists of four overlapping rotor blades, which look like disc fans.
There are two blades in the front and two in the back.
The prototype is long but very flat with a slim rectangular seat, like a gym bench, for the rider to sit on in the middle.
"The vehicle is controlled by deflecting thrust from its two propellers using control vanes - these are a bit like rudders or ailerons on a plane," MA said on its website.
"The most noticeable feature of the new Hoverbike and the 1/3rd scale drone is its unique patent pending offset and overlapping rotor blades, designed to reduce weight and platform area."
Testing on the full-sized design. Photo / www.hover-bike.com
Mr Malloy had been looking for a partner to fund his project for years.
He posted on his blog in 2013 to say progress on the hoverbike was "painfully slow" due to limited funding.
"What this project needs is many hands - and enthusiastic ones at that - to continue the build and testing, to offer new ideas and methods and bring to the table more that just one person can do," he wrote.
