Technology
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Ever since Star Wars brought podracing and flying motorcycles to the forefront of TV, it’s fair to say most people have wanted to fly one. Luckily, we truly are entering an era of flying vehicles – after all, flying cars will be raced around a track by the end of the year – and flying motorcycles are next on that list.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.Jetpack Aviation’s "The Speeder" is the answer to all our sci-fi prayers. A jet turbine-powered motorcycle that looks more like a flying jet ski, this new vehicle prototype has just completed the first test flight that will enable it to go into the next stage of production.
While it isn’t necessarily the completed vehicle that took flight, the company was testing its VTOL self-stabilizing jet platform that will make the basis for their Speeder vehicle. The tests showed it could hover, turn, move in various directions, and right itself after being knocked – all incredibly difficult feats when working with four jet engines.
You might be wondering: "but rotor drones have been doing this for years!", and you’d be right. However, jet engines will allow the vehicle to travel higher and faster than anything available right now, and won’t necessarily be electric. And travel fast it will.
According to Jetpack Aviation, there will be various different iterations of The Speeder, including recreational, military, and cargo lift models, and they will soar at over 150 miles per hour (241 kilometers per hour) to heights of up to 4,572 meters (15,000 feet).
