Motorcycles may still rule the urban rush, but a jet-powered upstart from Europe is threatening to rewrite the script on personal transport.
Enter the Volonaut Airbike: a featherweight flying machine that looks like it’s been ripped straight from Return of the Jedi, minus the blaster fire.
The brainchild of Polish engineer Tomasz Patan (yes, the same one behind the Jetson One eVTOL), the Airbike trades propellers for an undisclosed jet propulsion system. Patan hasn’t spilled the technical details just yet, but he has confirmed a top speed of 200km/h and a stabilisation setup that promises hands-off hover and intuitive control.
As light as it gets
Thanks to carbon fibre construction and 3D-printed components, the Airbike tips the scales at just 39kg - or about one-seventh the weight of your average motorcycle. For context, even the Jetson One weighs over 80kg.
This makes the Airbike nimble, though it's fair to assume the total weight with rider will be considerably more.
Volonaut claims the open-air design offers a 360-degree view, helping riders feel “one with the machine” and completely immersed in flight. It’s a bold promise, especially given there's no canopy, screen, or wind protection - but then again, no traffic either.
Star Wars vibes, legal risks
Videos on the company’s site show the Airbike zipping around in test flights, including one featuring a Stormtrooper riding the thing like a Speeder Bike knockoff, likely to the mild dismay of Disney’s legal department.
While no firm launch date or price has been shared, Patan told Robb Report that it’s “highly probable” the Airbike will be available “in the near future.”
Exactly when, and whether it’ll actually be road, sky or legally ready remains to be seen. For now, it’s a real glimpse at what the intersection of sci-fi dreams and private flight might soon look like.
