"Flying motorcycle" … Until now, such words would be perceived as a joke or a phrase from some fantastic work. However, just a few days ago in the USA, on the territory of the Mojave Desert, a flying motorcycle was successfully tested, which was created by the Californian company Aerofex.
The hovercraft, dubbed the Hoverbike, took off about 5 meters in the air during these tests, reaching a speed of about 50 kilometers per hour. The creators of the miracle unit are confident that this is very good performance for the first prototype, and that soon the new improved hoverbike models will achieve much higher speed, height, and also carrying capacity.
A flying motorcycle doesn't have the usual wheels. Instead, there are rotors. Maneuvering is carried out by pressing the pilot's knees on two side panels - the control panel. The hoverbike is equipped with an on-board computer that monitors the trajectory and stability of this vehicle. Thanks to this, the flying motorcycle can move confidently in the forest, in tunnels, under bridges, etc.
One of the directors of Aerofex, Marc de Roche, in an interview with television, told what, in his opinion, are the prospects for a flying motorcycle. According to de Roche, the hoverbike will certainly be useful for border guards, as well as for doctors living in rural areas where the road network is poorly developed. With the help of a flying motorcycle, it will be much easier for them to come to their patients. He also said that the company is actively working on the creation of an unmanned version of the hoverbike and plans to complete it no later than December 2013. Such an unmanned unit can be used as a cargo carrier for a variety of purposes, both civil and military. It is possible that the US military department will be interested in the brainchild of Aerofex, if it really succeeds in creating it.
Marc de Roche also announced in his interview that a second, improved version of the flying motorcycle will be presented within the next month or two, that is, no later than the end of October.
