Flying cars have been researched for years, but a California startup wants to add a flying motorcycle to the mix.
JetPack Aviation is developing the Speeder, a true flying motorcycle, and has told Supercar Blondie that it will be available as early as 2023.
The Speeder, unlike most new VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) designs we see these days, is not electric.
JetPack Aviation’s director of training and entertainment Sean Ray said the final product wasn’t far away from hitting the streets (the skies, rather).
“Testing is going amazing, actually,” Ray told.
“We are blown away with its progression in so [few] test flights.
“We are on the stabilization and hover control testing phase – we are still on safety tethers, but are getting phenomenal results.”
The company is hoping the Speeder will be commercially available as early as next year, 2023.
The Speeder is powered by a number of small jet engines.
The idea came from the military, emergency services, and offshore energy industries.
All of them have a need for a fast and compact aircraft that can carry a heavy payload.
That’s why jet propulsion is the only option for the flying motorcycle as batteries are too heavy.
Plus, the company clearly knows a thing or two about building a working jet-powered VTOL aircraft.
It will only need an area about the size of a car to take off into the air.
JetPack Aviation has written its own flight-control software for it as well.
That will make operation intuitive and like that of a normal motorcycle.
It will also boast the ability to fly itself autonomously to carry small but heavy items itself.
Early experimental versions of the flying motorcycle will require a pilot’s license to fly.
Potenitally, they’ll be able to travel at an insane 402km/h (250mph).
However, ‘ultralight’ civilian versions will be limited to 97km/h (60mph) under FAA rules and won’t require a pilot’s license to operate.
Flight time will also differ between 35 minutes for the full-fat military version, down to 15 minutes for civilian Speeders.
Four turbines were specified on the original concept but the final product will have eight.
