Volonaut – Test flight of Airbike prototype
An evening pause: Someday relatively soon, this prototype will be available for purchase, though at present it does not appear to me to be ready for prime time.. Where would you go this weekend if you had one?
Hat tip Cotour, who adds, “I bet you did not know that there is now a flying barbeque. I like mine medium rare.”
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
An evening pause: Someday relatively soon, this prototype will be available for purchase, though at present it does not appear to me to be ready for prime time.. Where would you go this weekend if you had one?
Hat tip Cotour, who adds, “I bet you did not know that there is now a flying barbeque. I like mine medium rare.”
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
What could possibly go wrong?
On the Cool Scale, that’s somewhere around liquid Nitrogen. The specs indicate a useful machine. No service ceiling is given, leading me to believe that flight depends on ground effect: you aren’t going rocketing up El Capitan. I miss my guess badly if there isn’t already a racing series in the planning based on these things. Yes, they will be called Pod Races.
Pre-order price is $800,000 per unit.
I was curious as to just how hot the turbine exhaust is. The little sheet of plywood at his takeoff/landing point is pretty well charred, which I guess is better than melting the blacktop. But how high up do you have to be before the turbine exhaust cools enough to not start forest fires?
With a 10 minute maximum flight time (probably with a very light-weight rider; and a maximum passenger weight of 200 pounds) it’s just an interesting toy for the kids of multi-millionaires.
Blackwing1 noted: ” . . . it’s just an interesting toy for the kids of multi-millionaires.”
Dollars to donuts people said the same thing about automobiles around 1900. This is not that, and the price is . . . prohibitive for the average Josephine, but as soon as a 2nd prototype is complete, there’s going to be a race. And that’s where the money likely is for these machines. Thoroughbreds cost much more to own and race, and they don’t last 10 minutes.
I think the video demonstrates that the exhaust temp is tolerable at around 10 – 15 meters. Wouldn’t want to ride over dry ground cover, though. Or a person. Speaking of exhaust temps, I’m wondering how long before someone fits an afterburner.
A Speeder Bike this is not.
Closer to this:
https://venturebrothers.fandom.com/wiki/Hover_Bikes?file=VB_Hover_Bikes.jpg
Pretty lame
Jeff Wright opined: “Pretty lame”
Grasshoppers begat Falcon 9.
Reminds me a bit of that Star Wars scene where they flew between the trees instead of over them.
it’s just an interesting toy for the kids of multi-millionaires
I won’t say you’re wrong, but what’s the point of being a multi-millionaire if you can’t buy your kids neat toys!
In addition to all the other safety issues, I wonder if it auto-lands when it’s running out of fuel.
If the effective ceiling is what we see in the video, the rider had better be good at dodging trees. And buildings. If in Africa, giraffes.
The latest toys for trust-fund-boys
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-robot-dogs-flying-cars-takeaways.html
Chinese brands showcased their efforts to create “flying cars,” small electric aircraft powered by multiple rotors designed for short journeys.
“We want to give the car wings,” said Wang Tan, co-founder of carmaker Xpeng’s aeronautical unit.
Xpeng’s Land Aircraft Carrier, an electric car that contains a fold-out, two-seat electric aircraft, should go into mass production in 2026 and be on sale in China for less than 2 million yuan ($281,000).
Uses include rescue from locations where access is difficult, such as in heavy traffic or from tall buildings, Wang said.
GAC’s flying car unit Govy meanwhile showed off its AirCab, a two-seater self-driving electric aircraft with a top-speed of 120 km/h and a range of up to 30 kilometers.
“It is quieter than a helicopter and better meets people’s needs,” Govy spokeswoman Li Shuhan said. “It’s also cheaper.”
They can keep it.