hoverbike

An Australian engineer devises a flying motorcycle...what could go wrong? Plus, beer that transforms, a gadget charger for nuclear winter, a breakfast-making robot duo, and a psychedelic massage courtesy of Microsoft's Kinect.

Subscribe in iTunes SD Video | Subscribe in RSS SD Video… Read more

Riding a motorcycle can be a pretty dangerous mode of transport, but obviously, not everyone agrees or the Hoverbike wouldn't have been built.

Designed by Australian engineer Chris Malloy, this hybrid vehicle combines a dual-propeller helicopter and a racing motorcycle and looks incredibly cool. It's retro-styled and has some fancy propellers made of Tasmanian Oak. It also has a 1,170cc 4-stroke engine and a carbon-fiber driveshaft, the latter being a lighter alternative to steel or aluminum. To lift off, the driver increases the thrust with the right hand via a throttle grip that's exactly the same as the throttle on a motorbike and can reach an airspeed of 150 knots (173 mph), according to Malloy.

While the idea of a flying motorcycle may pique the interest of daredevils, there aren't any videos (or pictures) of the Hoverbike in flight yet save for a few images of the contraption hovering while tethered to the ground. Also, its flight specifications--which are untested so far--do cause concern. For example, the "bike" is designed to reach a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet, which is incredibly high for such a small aircraft. Malloy calls the Hoverbike "very safe," and fortunately, it comes with two explosive parachutes that deploy in case of an emergency. … Read more