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Flying 'Helicopter' Bike Unveiled in Prague
UPI ^
| June 13, 2013
Posted on 06/16/2013 5:23:58 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Three Czech companies have teamed up to make a prototype of a flying electric bicycle that successfully took a test flight Wednesday inside an exhibition hall in Prague.
It looks like a mountain bike with attached industrial fans -- a bit like a helicopter. It weighs just over 200 pounds and has two battery-powered propellers in the front, two in the back and one each on the side to provide lift and balance.
Czech Republic companies Duratec Bicycles, Technodat and Evektor developed the flying bike with support from French company Dassault Systèmes.
A lightweight dummy rode in the saddle for the remote-controlled test flight in front of press. Milan Duchek, technical director of Duratec, says more powerful batteries will be needed before the machine can carry a human.
But as battery power and capacity improves, city cyclists could find themselves flying high above traffic. Engineers hope their invention will be used not just for commuting, but for sport, tourism and recreation.
TOPICS: Hobbies; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
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To: nickcarraway
“A lightweight dummy rode in the saddle for the remote-controlled test flight in front of press.”
President Obama saves the day again!
21
posted on
06/16/2013 6:10:09 PM PDT
by
SaxxonWoods
(....Let It Burn...)
To: nickcarraway
Seven years ago, I watched some guys in these fly over. You can fly for at least an hour.
.jpg)
22
posted on
06/16/2013 6:11:20 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The monsters are due on Maple Street)
To: nickcarraway
23
posted on
06/16/2013 6:38:04 PM PDT
by
schm0e
("we are in the midst of a coup.")
To: kingu
All true. Those blade safety guards look like a hat tip to the EPA.
24
posted on
06/16/2013 6:39:08 PM PDT
by
Average Al
( Our founder fathers never knew we could fail due to a Techtatorship.)
To: nickcarraway
Even though this doesn't fly, or even really make sense, it looks sleek.
25
posted on
06/16/2013 6:45:05 PM PDT
by
schm0e
("we are in the midst of a coup.")
To: UCANSEE2
I wonder where Solandra went
26
posted on
06/16/2013 6:47:36 PM PDT
by
keving
(We get the government we vote for)
To: DJlaysitup
muslims will eventually fly one into a local Stuckeys and burn it to the ground.
27
posted on
06/16/2013 6:56:19 PM PDT
by
Secret Agent Man
(Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
To: caddie
To: nickcarraway
Skip the rotating fans and go straight to JET POWER and wings...
To: UCANSEE2
Your pix is a gyro-copter the pusher prop propels forward as the speed increases the rotary wing (blades) provide the lift. Earlier models has the engine in the front. These are available in kit form.
30
posted on
06/16/2013 7:39:49 PM PDT
by
mosesdapoet
(Serious contribution pause.Please continue onto meaningless venting no one reads.)
To: nickcarraway
31
posted on
06/16/2013 7:46:56 PM PDT
by
LyinLibs
(If victims of islam were more "islamophobic," maybe they'd still be alive.)
To: nickcarraway
I'm looking forward to Critical Mass in the Sky!
Imagine hundreds of bikers hovering over the roads on the last Friday of every month.
Add the late afternoon jet stream breeze in the San Francisco Bay Area, and what's not to like?
-PJ
32
posted on
06/16/2013 7:55:00 PM PDT
by
Political Junkie Too
(If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
To: caddie
I was always fascinated with Postman Donald Duck and his singleseater.
But hangin in the air only powered by Li-iOn’s seems terribly risky.
33
posted on
06/16/2013 8:02:09 PM PDT
by
Hardraade
(http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Obama equals Osama))
To: nickcarraway
Looks like something the professor on Gilligan’s Island made.
34
posted on
06/16/2013 8:26:26 PM PDT
by
boycott
(CAL)
To: nickcarraway
Just think if a fan blade gets detached. It would slice right through you.
To: ProtectOurFreedom
Skip the rotating fans and go straight to JET POWER and wings... I had to work with a smaller budget.
36
posted on
06/16/2013 8:48:16 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The monsters are due on Maple Street)
To: UCANSEE2
Obama sign on the wing in exchange for accepting gummint funding?
37
posted on
06/16/2013 8:50:01 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
To: keving
Their execs are probably all on a Cruise Ship partying hardy.
38
posted on
06/16/2013 8:53:30 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The monsters are due on Maple Street)
To: NormsRevenge
STrap some solar panels on or sumthin’, booster rockets, mini sails They could always hang a wind turbine below the bike and charge the batteries with it.
39
posted on
06/16/2013 8:55:30 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The monsters are due on Maple Street)
To: Revolting cat!
Obama sign on the wing in exchange for accepting gummint funding?No. That's one of those all seeing eye cameras and I sell the photos to the government.
40
posted on
06/16/2013 8:57:41 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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