The military is currently developing a hoverbike reminiscent of the speeder bikes ridden by scout troopers in Star Wars.
KICKSTARTER BEGINNINGS
UK-based engineering firm Malloy Aeronautics launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in 2014 to raise money for the manufacturing of 1/3 scale remote-controlled drones, which originally served as the Hoverbike’s proof-of-concept. These little prototypes provide the public with a reasonable demonstration of the flight capabilities of the planned full-scale model. But they are also pretty cool drones on their own, with the ability to reach a speed of 45 m.p.h.
The campaign raised more than $100,000 dollars, enabling Malloy to move forward with the development of the full-sized Hoverbike.
Aside from the fact that it’s a freaking hoverbike, what makes this transportation method so special?
According to Malloy Aeronautics, compared to a helicopter, the Hoverbike is cheaper, more rugged, easier to use, and it “represents a whole new way to fly.”
MILITARY INTEREST
It didn’t take long for the military to develop an interest in the Hoverbike.
Malloy describes, “This project started out as a hobby, but quickly grew into a commercial enterprise, with interest from people and groups such as universities, farmers, search and rescue, private and military, with notable visits from the US Army. . .and Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.”
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory signed a contract with Malloy Aeronautics to develop Hoverbikes, or, as the Department of Defense likes to call them, Tactical Reconnaissance Vehicles, for the U.S. military. The military sees a vehicle like this as having valuable reconnaissance applications, as is demonstrated by the Imperial military’s reconnaissance troops in Star Wars.
TAKING FLIGHT
A working, full-scale, manned Hoverbike is just around the corner.
“We are in the final construction stages of the latest manned prototype of the Hoverbike and in a few months we will start flight testing,” says Malloy. “After the successful completion of test flights, we will build a final engineering prototype for submission to aviation certification authorities.” The military is waiting for its Tactical Reconnaissance Vehicles. But if you want your own Hoverbike, the current estimated price tag is $51,000.
