This is the Volonaut Airbike, and it is set to rewrite the rules of personal flight. Built by Polish inventor Tomasz Patan, who was also behind the Jetson ONE eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft), the Airbike is unlike anything you’ve probably seen in the sky before.
No, this isn’t Vaporware or a concept, and this flying hoverbike breaks every rule of personal aerial vehicle design. No propellers, no cockpit, just an ultra-lightweight frame, jet thrust, and the rider. You simply grip the handlebars like a motorcycle, lean forward, and launch into the air, with the controls being managed through a telemetry-equipped helmet. A proprietary flight computer translates your body movements into adjustments in real-time flight. More specific details about the exact method of propulsion are awaited, as Patan wants to retain some secrecy for now.
With its minimalist design and the use of 3D-printed components and carbon fiber in its construction, the single-seat Airbike is seven times lighter than a road-going superbike, typically weighing anywhere between 300 and 500 pounds. Volonaut claims a top speed of 124 mph. The absence of any rotors gives you unobstructed 360-degree views along with the agility to fly much closer to trees and maneuver in tighter spaces, which is something that more conventional flying craft would find challenging.
Since the Airbike’s recent debut, it has triggered a wave of comparisons on the web with speeder bikes from Return of the Jedi. Design details like the red light strips at the rear certainly lend it something that’s straight out of Star Wars.
So, how much could the Airbike cost? Volonaut hasn’t revealed any pricing or a launch date yet. But for some context, Patan’s earlier creation, the Jetson ONE eVTOL, which offers 20 minutes of flight on electric power and a top speed of 63 mph, sells for $128,000. The Speeder by JetPack Aviation: a turbine-powered flying motorcycle targeted at military and rescue ops, costs $380,000. Others like the Ryse Recon and Skyblazer hover in the $150k-$250k range.
Source: Volonaut