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For science fiction enthusiasts, this is a dream come true. A company claims to have engineered a Star Wars-inspired hoverbike, capable of reaching speeds of up to 124mph. This innovative airbike could transform personal transportation.
Volonaut’s Airbike: A Real-Life Speeder Bike
Volonaut, based in Poland, states that their Airbike is the pioneering ‘hoverbike’ of its kind that doesn’t rely on propellers for flight. This groundbreaking vehicle, designed and built in Poland, promises to redefine personal aerial transport.
Amazing videos display an individual seated on the device as it appears to gracefully navigate through the air. The Airbike maintains remarkable stability as the rider briefly waves at the camera.
The company boasts: ‘This revolutionary design shares significant resemblances to ‘speeder bikes’ depicted in well-known science fiction films.’
Technical Specifications and Development
Specific technical details about the Airbike remain undisclosed, as the company indicates the vehicle has ‘recently emerged from stealth mode development’ under the guidance of Polish inventor and Volonaut founder, Tomasz Patan.
Describing it as a ‘superbike for the skies’, Volonaut reveals the Airbike is propelled by jet propulsion. This innovative propulsion system sets it apart from traditional aircraft.
Incredible videos show someone sitting on the device as it appears to effortlessly glide through the air.
Poland-based Volonaut has revealed the Airbike: a small one-person vehicle said to be able to fly at 124 mph.
Key Features of the Airbike
- Proprietary stabilisation system
- Flight computer for automatic hover
- Simplified controls for the rider
According to Volonaut, the current version of the vehicle is the culmination of extensive effort, overcome challenges, and numerous iterations.
‘It took the founder several iterations to arrive at a functional and flight-ready design, culminating in the first stable flight in Poland in May 2023.’
Future Availability and Public Reaction
A timeline for production or pricing details has not been specified yet.
Social media users on Instagram have expressed enthusiasm for the design, with one user commenting: ‘The future is here! This is the best personal flying aircraft I’ve seen in terms of design and flight.’
Another user added: ‘The generation that grew up on Star Wars has been waiting for you, my friend.’
‘Please accelerate your work. We’re aging, but we still want a ride.’
Jet propulsion, used by this aircraft, propels vehicles forward through jets of gas.
Commonly used throughout the Star Wars galaxy, speeder bikes (pictured) are single-driver craft that move at very high speeds over 300 miles per hour.
The company say theirs is the first ‘hoverbike’ vehicle that does not use propellers to fly. However, they have not yet revealed how their design works.
Design and Comfort
Volonaut emphasizes the comfort of the device, suggesting the rider will ‘become one’ with the flying machine.
Thanks to the use of carbon fiber materials, the Airbike is reportedly seven times lighter than a typical motorcycle.
Speeder Bikes in Star Wars
In the Star Wars universe, speeder bikes are typically single-driver vehicles capable of exceeding 300 miles per hour.
These gravity-defying bikes employ a fictional ‘repulsorlift’ technology that counteracts a planet’s gravity, allowing them to hover above the ground.
Forward thrust is achieved through thruster engines – demanding considerable skill and quick reactions, particularly in dense environments.
The film ‘Return of the Jedi’ (1983) features a memorable scene where Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are pursued by stormtroopers through the forest moon of Endor on speeder bikes.
Hover-based transportation is a recurring theme throughout the Star Wars saga, appearing in films like ‘The Phantom Menace’ (1999) and ‘The Force Awakens’ (2015).