Speeder Bikes, finally?

[CountryGent]

Well, maybe:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZXGoj1if4c


Color me skeptical. But it would be super neato if it actually works.

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[CamoDeafie]

Well, maybe:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZXGoj1if4c


Color me skeptical. But it would be super neato if it actually works.

Agreed.

Physics and logistics don't make sense here.

1. What's it powered by?

2. Is it a jet, turbofan, or ducted fan? Edit, I don't see rotors outside but I can see a circular washout below the thingy in some parts of the clip indicating a vertically oriented thrust system.

3. How is it not running out of fuel quickly if it's not electric in that small of a space, and supporting a grown man?

4. If it's electric, battery life? Or are they using hydrogen fuel cell of some kind?

 

[Stomper]

Two views of something more likely...

 

[P7M13]

Running out of gas or a stall takes on a whole new meaning.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

As long as it don't come with a Ewok...
George Lucas stole those critters from another science fiction writer...and never any credit given to H. Beam Piper.
Andy

 

[Stomper]

As long as it don't come with a Ewok...
George Lucas stole those critters from another science fiction writer...and never any credit given to H. Beam Piper.
Andy

Alright George.... it's time to PAY THE "PIPER"!!




See what I did there?

 

[kmk1012]

Nerds, I was never into Star Trek

 

[Certaindeaf]

Nerds, I was never into Star Trek

Ahem. Star Track.

 

[Stomper]

Ahem. Star Track.

Ahhh.... good ol' Star Track, the preferred brand of tracksuit of young Russian Gopniks everywhere!

View: https://youtu.be/6OoglRuT0jY?si=aI2eS_CL92ZjTlgY

 

[Alexx1401]

Have to say it sure looks interesting. Will be fun to see if it actually goes into any kind of production.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Sonex Aircraft SubSonex - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Based on the info I've found for the small jet engines, expected fuel usage to be about 34 gallons per hour at takeoff.. for a 250lb thrust, 40 pound engine. So right off the bat, the range has to be pretty short, given that it doesn't look like the Airbike has a large fuel tank.

 

[Nutty4Guns]

A novelty at best. Fuel consumption makes this a non-starter for anything more than a short, expensive joy ride.

Cool tech though.

 

[CamoDeafie]

A novelty at best. Fuel consumption makes this a non-starter for anything more than a short, expensive joy ride.

Cool tech though.

That's my issue too. Unless it's got 100 gallons somewhere..... Yea, no.

A ducted fan might be more fuel efficient for the amount of thrust but it'll depend a lot on engineering and controls

 

[RVTECH]

At appx. 2:25 the 'narrAItor' mentions 'battery capacity' and it's 'jet propulsion system'

Tell me O B Wan, are 'batteries' and 'jet propulsion' congruent, operational 'bedfellows' ?

 

[CamoDeafie]

At appx. 2:25 the 'narrAItor' mentions 'battery capacity' and it's 'jet propulsion system'

Tell me O B Wan, are 'batteries' and 'jet propulsion' congruent, operational 'bedfellows' ?

Now, that would make an interesting idea.
Electric ducted fan basically.

Several companies like Honeywell are working on hybrid electric-hydrogen jet engines.

Edit. "Electric ducted fan", doesn't sound as cool as "jet propulsion"

 

[CountryGent]

As long as it don't come with a Ewok...
George Lucas stole those critters from another science fiction writer...and never any credit given to H. Beam Piper.
Andy

Speaking of Piper, he had quite the collection of antique arms.

 

[nwslopoke]

I am more skeptical. Like drones, I don't want some "squid" flying over my house. In my day, as expensive sport bikes hit the 2nd and 3rd hand markets their cheapness lead to people with nothing to lose buying and wrecking them.

I don't trust most normies on the road. I don't need someone texting and flying anywhere near me.

 

[CamoDeafie]

There is the issue of the FAA. Most likely the FAA would classify such things as "light sports aircraft" or some such. They may require Sport Pilot License if the item doesn't meet this regulations rule "Part 103" thing which defines what ultralight aircraft are, and defines where and when and how they may be flown

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.ecfr.gov

Edit
Reading this, it seems to say if the aircraft either has a fuel tank larger than 5 US gallons, or a speed greater than 55 knots at full power in level flight. And if it's greater than 254 pounds empty, it is not an "Ultralight" aircraft but would be classified as a Sports aircraft and thus subject to the same regulations as light aircraft.

 

[RVTECH]

Like drones, I don't want some "squid" flying over my house.

This would be my concern as well, unless there were laws passed to prevent say, 'human controlled' light aircraft to be X amount of distance/height from houses, buildings etc. but as always technology is typically ahead of laws but until these things (of ever) get to a point where they are even minimally commonplace probably not much to worry about.

Even with all the drones supposedly owned I have only see ONE fly over my place and it was moving pretty fast obviously on it's way to somewhere else.

 

[CamoDeafie]

This would be my concern as well, unless there were laws passed to prevent say, 'human controlled' light aircraft to be X amount of distance/height from houses, buildings etc. but as always technology is typically ahead of laws but until these things (of ever) get to a point where they are even minimally commonplace probably not much to worry about.

Even with all the drones supposedly owned I have only see ONE fly over my place and it was moving pretty fast obviously on it's way to somewhere else.

"Subpart B—Operating Rules

§ 103.9 Hazardous operations.

(a) No person may operate any ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a hazard to other persons or property.

(b) No person may allow an object to be dropped from an ultralight vehicle if such action creates a hazard to other persons or property.

§ 103.11 Daylight operations.

(a) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except between the hours of sunrise and sunset.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, ultralight vehicles may be operated during the twilight periods 30 minutes before official sunrise and 30 minutes after official sunset or, in Alaska, during the period of civil twilight as defined in the Air Almanac, if:

(1) The vehicle is equipped with an operating anticollision light visible for at least 3 statute miles; and

(2) All operations are conducted in uncontrolled airspace.

§ 103.13 Operation near aircraft; right-of-way rules.

(a) Each person operating an ultralight vehicle shall maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid aircraft and shall yield the right-of-way to all aircraft.

(b) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a collision hazard with respect to any aircraft.

(c) Powered ultralights shall yield the right-of-way to unpowered ultralights.

§ 103.15 Operations over congested areas.

No person may operate an ultralight vehicle over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons.

§ 103.17 Operations in certain airspace.

No person may operate an ultralight vehicle within Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless that person has prior authorization from the ATC facility having jurisdiction over that airspace."


From the link I posted above.

Edit, this is for manned ultralight aircraft which the Airbike may qualify as