Hoverbike – the Twin Rotor BMW Boxer Powered Flying Motorcycle

[Flyinfool]

This just looks like the potential of way to much fun.

And weighing just 231 lbs means that there is no license required to use it.

 

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2011/06/09/hoverbike-the-twin-rotor-bmw-boxer-powered-flying-motorcycle/

[Darren]

Where is the sign up list for this ride, me wants one of those!!!

[CrazyHorse]

That does look cool. Not sure I would want to ride it though. With out a wing you cant glide to safety you might just auto rotate into the ground like a helicopter. I wonder what would happen if you had an engine failure at low altitude like 10 feet off the ground going 60 mph. Parachute aint gonna help you at that altitude. Would need a zero/zero ejection seat. But It would be interesting to ride though. Star wars like.

[Flyinfool]

The article did mention a BRS type parachute system.

I do not know what the minimum altitude and/or max speed that it can be successfully deployed is.

There was also mention of the rider wearing a chute.

I suppose that is in case you pop the main chute and then fall off the "bike" from the shock of deployment, or fall off the "bike" for any reason.

 

But that is no different than a helicopter, at 10 feet and 60 mph you will not be able to auto rotate either.

 

With this being 2 ducted fans, auto rotation is not an option.

[CaptainJoe]

Unless the fans are gyroscoplically controlled and counter rotating I don't see it working at all...

 

With it tethered equally at 2 feet and all tethers taunt, I fail to see that it is a controlled flight at all...

 

Put it on Ten foot tethers and hover (changing altitude between 3 and 8 feet)

 

Then maybe I'll take a closer look...