BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike

[mors vito]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/230178/hover_bikes_are_real_let_you_eat_your_pie_in_the_sky.html

got to be one of the coolest things ive ever seen

[jvax]

Derby 

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=49775.0

[Statler]

I merged the threads into the NMC thread.  That ain't no motorcycle.   

[Turf]

Yeah, saw this post on another forum. My concern is stopping ability and the fact that if you are stopping hard, you are potentially pointing a VERY large weed whacker at whatever is in front of you.

Wtf are you panic braking for at 10k feet?

[Scooter Montgomery]

Wtf are you panic braking for at 10k feet?

Pigeons are the new squirrels.

[lethe]

Wtf are you panic braking for at 10k feet?

damn reindeer

[Timmy Tucker]

Count me in for Hoverbike V3.0

[Duc Buz]

Count me in for Hoverbike V3.0

I need this. Now, or maybe the next round. We don'tneed no stinkin' brakes.

[sno_duc]

According to his website he has all directional controls worked out in the handle bars. I would definitely give it a test drive.

This is definitely going to sound lame, but do airplanes have gears (i guess when changing gears you could fall from the sky...)? Or is the motor expected to power the propellers with a direct connection? I am just wondering how hard this guy is pushing the Boxer engine, and can it do it for the period of time he expects.

In a sense, all but the most basic have constant speed propellers. The hub has a piston in it that uses engine oil via a governor to vary the the pitch. You set what rpm is desired and it maintains that rpm over a wide range of thottle openings. For example 2700 rpm and full thottle for take off, decreased to 2500 rpm and full thottle for climb out, decreased again to 2200 - 2400 rpm for cruise.