The US Army Is Getting Futuristic Hoverbikes

[humble3d]

The US Army Is Getting Futuristic Hoverbikes

A British company is bringing hover bikes stateside for commercial use—but not before the US Army gets their own version first. Army / Technology

Back to the Future‘s prediction of hoverboards in the year 2015 hasn’t panned out, but the US Army has just announced something even cooler.

In a partnership made public at the Paris Airshow, British firm Malloy Aeronautics has teamed up with the US Department of Defense to create the first hoverbikes for the US Army—and eventually for commercial use.

Malloy’s marketing sales director Grant Stapleton tells Quartz that the hoverbike is meant to be a cheaper, more adaptable alternative to the helicopter. The first prototype can fly at around 9,000 feet. (According to Reuters, the British company has already built a one-third scale model.) Stapleton tells Quartz that the hoverbike is being developed for both manned and unmanned use.

And how long before you can get one? “The civilian hoverbike is at the forefront of our objective,” Stapleton says.

The company estimates the hoverbike will be ready in three to five years. And Stapleton says “it will be around the cost of a top-of-the-line SUV.”

The Aero-X hover bike will hit the market in 2017 allowing riders to fly over the ground. Hover vehicles are not a new idea, but none have been successful. That will change in 2017. Then, the Aero-X hovercraft will hit the market, allowing riders to fly over the ground.

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2015/06/us-army-getting-futuristic-hoverbikes/116128/

[Kalju]

Seems like spam writer is woken up?

[smallhagrid]

Very cool concept video - but they really need to show a REAL & finished device with a living man riding it around; the mock-up looks too cartoony to be credible. (IMO)

[dMog]

deleted

[software182]

Hollywood