Featured Image Credit: @xturismo_official/Instagram
Topics: US News, Technology
Rhiannon Ingle
Get ready American sci-fi fans, the world's first flying bike will soon be landing in the US.
Looking like something straight out of a Star Wars film, XTURISMO - the world's first hoverbike - will soon be on sale in the US. See it in action here:
This is the 'world's first flying bike', according to XTURISMO's website, and 'is capable of flying for 40 minutes and can reach speeds of up to 80-100 km'.
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And if you are wondering how the bike looks when in the air, Detroit Auto Show co-chair, Thad Scott, was more than happy to give a demonstration and discuss the experience.
"I feel like I'm literally 15-years-old and I just got out of Star Wars and I jumped on their bike," he said to Reuters.
"I mean, it's awesome. It was exhilarating. It's not vicious, it's comfortable taking off and landing. There's no jerky-jerk, it's literally very, very smooth and I can't wait for the future.
"I'm so excited," Scott added.
The vehicle was created by a Japanese startup company, AERWINS, who specialise in 'air mobility' and that the bike is 'already on sale in Japan'.
A smaller version of the bike will be available in the US in 2023 and with an estimated price-tag of a massive $777,000 (approx £681,000), it's clear that these flying bikes won't be replacing what's in your garden shed anytime soon.
Since being announced, people on social media have been going wild over the concept and hundreds are already definitely sold, with one Twitter user even adding it to his Christmas list.
"So if I'm just a big kid really, can I add this to my list for Santa...?" they wrote.
Another commented: "When I win big on the lottery, I'm definitely going get one of these."
While many were amazed by the flying vehicle, others took the opportunity to give people some blunt advice to keep things vintage.
"Just ride a f***ing bicycle," one user wrote.
Another added with a more serious note: "Personal flight is going to change the world as dramatically as the car and I'm not convinced our policy makers are ready for it.
One Twitter user, who was clewarly slightly underwhelmed by the invention, was quick to share their issue with the bike's fly time.
They posted: "40 minutes! What is the point, you can't get anywhere that you couldn't walk to and back in one charge."
While others were, in fact, impressed by the bike, one saw a missed opportunity to give it a cooler name: "What idiot called it this and not a floatercycle?"
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