It’s no coincidence that the first video ad for the Volonaut Airbike was published just before May 4, a.k.a. Star Wars Day. The video’s aesthetic will be immediately familiar to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the science-fiction franchise. Since the first film debuted in 1977, hover bikes speeding across the Tatooine desert have captivated the imaginations of fans the world over.
Now, a Polish inventor claims to have a working prototype — albeit with quite a few caveats.
Polish entrepreneur Tomasz Patan founded Volonaut to realize his dream of a real-life “flying air bike.” Patan explains that it’s the first “hoverbike vehicle” that doesn’t use propellers to fly. Instead, it’s powered by jet propulsion that supposedly offers speeds up to an incredible (terrifying?) 200 kph.
His prototype is the result of “many months of hard work, solved challenges and multiple failures,” according to Patan. It’s the realization of a concept often portrayed in science fiction. It “became the obsession to its creator,” Volonaut says on its website.
The Airbike is seven times lighter than a typical motorcycle, thanks to a construction that combines carbon fiber and 3D printing. A proprietary stabilization system, aided by a flight computer, will provide automatic hover controls for the rider.
However, other details about the vehicle remain scarce, as it has just emerged from “stealth mode development.” Even in the video, we’re not shown any moments of liftoff or landings, which raises questions about the Airbike’s viability at this early stage of development.
But the attraction of soaring across desert landscapes on a hover bike is impossible to ignore. We can only hope that the viral success of the brand’s first video teaser will lead to further proof of concept.
This article first appeared on GearJunkie.
