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FlyNano lets non-pilots take flight

While we aren't sure if pilot licenses are required for you to fly this thing in your own country, for the safety of future owners, we sincerely hope they are.

Timothy Fernandez

FlyNano
FlyNano

We're not sure if the man in the promotional image above is petrified or having the time of his life in the latest flying contraption to come out of Germany. The FlyNano is what we think a floatplane--a plane that lands and takes off on water--might look like in the future.

According to the brochure (PDF), the FlyNano is a personal flyer that can't be classified as a plane due to its light weight. It weighs less than 155 pounds in total and has an engine and drivetrain that's less than 45 pounds. This isn't surprising considering that it's made of an expensive carbon fiber composite, unlike the "cheap" aluminum alloys used in regular planes. What's really impressive, though, is that the FlyNano can lift a person of up to 285 pounds, with its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 450 pounds.

Prices range from 25,000 to 27,000 euros ($36,080 to $38,966), and three models--electric, gas, and "racing"--will be available starting this summer. FlyNanos are apparently able to hit speeds up to 86 mph and can go up to 1.8 miles high.

While we aren't sure if pilot licenses are required to fly this thing in your own country, for the safety of future owners, we sincerely hope they are.

(Source: Crave Asia via Uncrate)