When certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Speeder of Jetpack Aviation will become a flying street motorbike using eight small but powerful rocket engines to fly at a speed of 96km/h in about 30 minutes.
We are promoting a special flight certificate for testing, said David Mayman, CEO of Jetpack Aviation. This takes more time than expected because this is a significant difference from what the FAA has previously handled.
Although the original design had 4 engines, the final product will have 8 engines, 2 engines at each corner of the vehicle to ensure safety reserve. The Speeder weighs about 136kg and carries 272kg - a ratio that makes the Speeder different from other vertical take-off and landing vehicles (VTOL).
The Speeder P2 model is being tested at the company's facilities in California. It will continue to be tested until it is certified by the FAA. The model has achieved the ability to take off and land automatically. It also floated and flew forward.
Jetpack Aviation displays a full-sized black model at events. Speeder is designed for pilots in a seated position similar to a motorbike, Mayman said.
An unmanned version is also being developed for the military market as cargo aircraft. It can fly 30m above ground at a speed of 643km/h, making it almost unable to be shot down.
We imagined sending 10 of these from different directions, like a fleet of drones, all packed with cargo for rescue missions, Mayman said.
Focusing on the first military version will be a way to fund the extended trial of flying motorbikes - what Jetpack Aviation calls quarter- solving vehicles.
In the form of a manned motorbike, the Speeder is capable of reaching a speed of 402km/h, although even the best driver will have difficulty maintaining that speed. Therefore, the company has an engine adjustment unit and an altitude limiter.
Mayman humorously said: In theory, you can continue flying 4,800km before running low on fuel. But then you will need an umbrella.
Speeder will have fly-by-wire technology like fighter jets. The controls are designed to be simple, limited to the controls on the controller - similar to a video game. One is for take-off and landing; the other button is for speed and take-off.
After Speeder took off, it will rise to a height of about 18m and fly in a committed committed committed space, with the flight controller inside waiting for the pilot's instructions. The control unit is connected to multiple sensors to detect where the plane is going and obstacles to avoid. If there is a building or tree in front, it will automatically detect and avoid it.
Mini rocket engines will create enough thrust to carry two or even three people. But if Speeder is included in the FAA's FAR supplementary lightweight category 103, it will be limited to one passenger. Mayman said Speeder could eventually reach hypersonic speeds, although the company has not yet had a technical answer to that.
The body of the car is like an F1 racing car that can provide the necessary safety to increase the speed to 402km/h. With small wings, it can fly for nearly an hour.
Although it will take many more years to get a certification, Mayman is confident in the customer's needs for Speeder.
At the Pacific Aviation Exhibition last summer, the company displayed a Speeder inside the VIP tent. Many people come to see and say they don't need a Lamborghini or Bentley anymore.
The company has started accepting pre-orders for Speeder, with an initial price of $381,000.
