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Flying Jet-Powered Hoverboard Now a Reality (theverge.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the Green-Goblin-gliders dept.

Zapata Racing has begun testing prototypes of a new jet-powered hoverboard called the "Flyboard Air". The Verge published a new interview with the company's CEO, who confirms that a backpack full of kerosene-grade fuel powers the flying hoverboard's four 250-horsepower turboengines, with two more engines used for stabilizaton. Capable of flying up to 100 miles per hour, the jet-powered hoverboard uses an internal algorithm to adjust the thrust and angle of each turboengine, so "It's like we have six systems working together plus my brain and my legs." The company hopes to ultimately interest the military and security sectors in the technology, but they're also working on a smaller version that could be piloted while sitting, which the CEO describes as "extremely small, extremely stable, and something that you can take to go and buy your bread in the morning."

6 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Economics 101 by AchilleTalon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "...something that you can take to go and buy your bread in the morning."

    That makes plenty of sense to burn 10 gallons of kerosene to get a loaf of bread.

    --
    Achille Talon
    Hop!
  2. Actual URL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.theverge.com/2016/4...

    URL in posted item has too many hyphens between hoverboard and interview

  3. Of course, you could go buy bread on this thing... by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...The only caveat is, no one else should be out at that time, or come closer than 150 feet to you. Jet exhaust of 1000 HP, and a couple of stability thrusters so close to ground will kick up so much of small debris, anything down stream of the jet wash is going to suffer greatly. Foreign object reingestion, got to hand it to the military to come up with three word terms, is a major problem in the Harrier jump jets. Harrier also has a few thrust nozzles for stabilization at low air speeds. Harrier landing has to be excruciatingly precise, and zones cleared of small debris.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  4. Problems by currently_awake · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you hit a micro-burst (sudden change in air speed) you will get blown off and fall to your death. Having a drone deliver your bread would be more convenient. Flying into a house at a hundred miles per hour would hurt. A bird strike would hurt. You think you'll see power lines at that speed? Ensure you have a backup fuel gauge.

  5. 1,000 Horsepower? by Bartles · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think something is wrong here. It would take nowhere near 1,000 horsepower plus two more engines of unknown output for stabilization to fly a human being. A PT6A turbine engine with 1000,hp output burns .69lb of fuel per horsepower per hour. And it is far more efficient than 6 small turbines. If he was flying on a single 1000hp turbine, he would have burned 50 lbs of fuel in that 4 minute flight. Something doesn't make sense.

  6. Zowie! by Opyros · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This may revolutionize everyday life as much as the Segway did!! Uh, wait a minute—