Prime Highlights
- Polish startup Volonaut debuts the Airbike, an innovative jet-powered hoverbike with a top speed of 200 km/h.
- Weighing seven times lighter than a traditional motorcycle, thanks to a patented stabilization system and carbon fiber structure, the Airbike offers a 360-degree clear view.
Key Facts
- The Airbike is designed for solo flight and offers a 360-degree clear view.
- Volonaut co-founder Tomasz Patan personally demonstrated the Airbike on its maiden demo over a rough terrain.
Key Background
Volonaut, a Polish start-up by aviation entrepreneur Tomasz Patan, launched its Airbike, a next-generation hoverbike with jet propulsion combined with cutting-edge aerospace engineering. The bold breakthrough brings personal air mobility to the masses previously the domain of science fiction. Its foldability and lack of open propellers set the Airbike apart from traditional vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) designs.
Airbike’s frame is comprised primarily of carbon fiber and made with advanced 3D printing technologies. It is very lightweight, weighing seven times less than a regular motorcycle. Light weight increases agility, efficiency, and maneuverability, making handling more sensitive in the air. Its proprietary flight stability system has a computerized automatic hover mode that gives a smooth ride even to inexperienced pilots.
At its first public display, co-founder Tomasz Patan took his Airbike over wood valleys and hilly terrain. The footage showed its ability to vertically take off and land, stable hover altitude, and fly again successfully without the need for any external support. These flights proved the Airbike’s ability for practical use and adaptability on different terrain.
The bike, like the Star Wars speeder bikes, is not only performance-oriented but also experience-oriented. With absolutely nothing in the way of vision, the Airbike provides a bird’s eye perspective of flight and an adrenaline-charged flight experience. The company has not made public yet when consumers will have access to or be able to afford it, but success during test flights bodes well for introduction later in the near future. Airbike from Volonaut is more than a breakthrough for personal flight, it could prove to be revolutionary in the human occupation of airspace in cities and recreation spaces as well.
