Home I Want My Hover Bike! Inventor Makes Real-Life Star Wars Tech

I Want My Hover Bike! Inventor Makes Real-Life Star Wars Tech

Footage of a hover bike test flight surfaced on the Internet this week and quickly sent sci-fi nerds and techies on a heavy Star Wars nostalgia trip. The video is enthralling not only because it’s a futurist’s wet dream. The vehicle’s user-friendly design could usher in an era of low-altitude flight as a form of daily, personal transportation.

Built by Aerofex, a California company, the hover bike finally perfects a design that was scrapped in the 1960’s due stability issues. Like earlier versions, it achieves flight through the rotation of very large fan blades, like a helicopter. The difference is in control bars near the knees that react when the driver leans on them, allowing the vehicle responds like a horse or surfboard. (Aviators call this system kinesthetic control, a tem coined by Charles H. Zimmerman, who in the 1950’s created “flying shoes” and a “flying pancake” for the US military.) Aerofex’s hover bike has been tested at 30 miles an hour and a height of 15 feet, and it has flown under bridges, in trees, and around buildings. 

“Think of it as lowering the threshold of flight, down to the domain of ATV’s (all-terrain vehicles),” said Mark De Roche, an aerospace engineer and the founder of Aerofex in an interview with InnovationNewsDaily.  

Aerofex’s goal to break “the barriers that limit access to the benefits of flight,” according to the company’s website. “Imagine personal flight as intuitive as riding a bike,” reads another passage on the site.

So when can we expect these flying contraptions to hit the market, and how much will they cost? According to De Roche, the answer is… “No.” Aerofex has no intention of offering these bikes to the public. De Roche sees them being used by search-and-rescue teams in difficult terrain, by farmers, and by the military in the form of an autonomous supply carrier.

Aerofex’s hover bike isn’t the only small flying machine trying to get off the ground, although it has racked up the most successful test flights. An Australian competitor has yet to complete a successful untethered test flight despite a similar design and ambitions to reach the mass market.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.