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Man Builds Hover Bike: Can Fly At 173MPH And 3,000M Without A Pilot's Licence

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Ash Small

Thu Jul 12 2012, 08:22AM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

A man in Australia has build a working prototype of a hoverbike which can - theoretically - fly at 173 MPH and a height of 3,000 metres.

Chris Malloy constructed the ludicrous/amazing machine out of a motorcycle.

Sadly he hasn't actually managed to take the hover bike out for a real cruise yet, because - frankly - it probably isn't safe enough.

Above: The hover bike built by Australian Chris Malloy

"We do not know 100% what might happen during testing," he said. "The straps are there to cover the unknown."

But now he's asking for donations via his website, and says it could go into production within 12 months if everything goes to play (which admittedly it rarely does with projects like this).

So far he's gathered AUS $76,000, although he needs AUS $1.1m to make the bike of his dreams.

Wired reports that using the bike's specs as a guide - it has a 1170 CC four-stroke engine, which powers two huge propellors - he says it can fly for 92 miles at a normal speed of 92 MPH.

The plan, Malloy explains on his website, is to add either parachutes to the bike itself or force the rider to wear one.

Above: The hover bike built by Australian Chris Malloy

Amazingly, if the bike is ever made you won't need a pilot's licence, as it would likely fall under the 'ultralight' category. Although again we imagine in practicality the government isn't going to allow just anyone up into the air on what for now at least looks like a fairly risky option for the commute.

Malloy insists it's safe, however.

"The hoverbike was designed with safety as the over-riding factor in all design," he says on his site. "If you have ever flown and pre-flight checked a helicopter you will appreciate the simplicity of this design."

Above: The hover bike built by Australian Chris Malloy

Patrick

Thu Jul 12 2012, 06:40PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

I really shouldnt be throwing rocks at my own glass house, but this looks like an excessively complicated way to commit suicide.

Killa-X

Thu Jul 12 2012, 08:17PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
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Heh, i remember a few years back seeing his test videos on youtube...crazy stuff..

Dr. Drone

Thu Jul 12 2012, 09:46PM

Registered Member #290 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:24PM
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Forty

Fri Jul 13 2012, 01:49AM

Registered Member #3888 Joined: Sun May 15 2011, 09:50PM
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 649

how would you like to show up to work/school on one of those things

I'd want some flip out wings on the thing to provide some more stability. It looks like it'd be prone to rolling over.

Killa-X

Fri Jul 13 2012, 02:25AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
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Posts: 1039

Forty wrote ...

how would you like to show up to work/school on one of those things

I'd want some flip out wings on the thing to provide some more stability. It looks like it'd be prone to rolling over.

I could see a 20mph straight line wind blowing from the side flipping it over hahah

Ash Small

Fri Jul 13 2012, 06:52AM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

Killa-X wrote ...

I could see a 20mph straight line wind blowing from the side flipping it over hahah

Maybe not, as long as the C of G is close to the C of E. It would just blow sideways, which could be corrected for with a bit of roll.

Patrick

Fri Jul 13 2012, 07:56AM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

Ash Small wrote ...

Killa-X wrote ...

I could see a 20mph straight line wind blowing from the side flipping it over hahah

Maybe not, as long as the C of G is close to the C of E. It would just blow sideways, which could be corrected for with a bit of roll.

what do you mean by C of E?

Ash Small

Fri Jul 13 2012, 12:37PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

Patrick wrote ...

what do you mean by C of E?

Centre of Effort. It is specifically used with regard to sailing boats, and is applicable in this case (wind blowing from the side).

I seem to remember that to find the centre of effort on a three sided sail (Bermuda rig, for example) you draw lines from each apex to the mid-point of the opposite side, and where the lines cross is the centre of effort.

On boats it is used in conjunction with the centre of lateral resistance to determine heel angles, etc, but in this case I imagine the C of LR will be the C of G (I don't have a great deal of experience in this type of aerodynamics, but I assume that, as the craft is airborne and not half in the water the C of LR is the same as the C of G. (Maybe someone can correct me if I'm mistaken?)

Pinky's Brain

Fri Jul 13 2012, 04:02PM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
Location:
Posts: 837

AFAICS ground effect is the only thing keeping this stable.

Basically an even more unrealistic version of the the twin ducted fan systems you wear like a back pack.

Personally if I was to try to create a more convenient ultralight I'd to build a winged aircraft which could be easily collapsed/expanded.

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