Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
California-based startup Hoversurf had one of its Hoverbikes crash in Dubai this week, and the scary footage was uploaded to YouTube (now taken down), shows the rider of the bike falling out of the sky.
Hoversurf is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that Dubai Police have expressed a lot of interest in adding a fleet of these vehicles. The police department received its first Hoverbikes in 2019 and has started training officers to fly it.
According to The Drive, one of the city’s law enforcement officers was “taking flight on a Hoversurf S3 (basically a rideable quad-rotor drone) and reaching an altitude of about 100 feet before rapidly descending again, losing control, and impacting the ground, after which the hoverbike dangerously flips over the top of its operator.”
Hoverbike rapidly descending
Hoverbike crashes
Here’s the video of the terrifying crash:
The original video was uploaded by Hoversurf to YouTube but was quickly taken down. The Drive said, “Hoversurf admitted in the now-removed video’s description that the crash was the result of a mechanical failure.”
Hoverbike has met all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements and can be purchased for a whopping $150,000 and doesn’t need a license to operate.
If Hoversurf is trying to market flying bikes — why would the company upload a video of one crashing? Oops…
These 150k thrown in the bin makes former Lamborghinis and Aston Martin purchases a great investment
It certainly paints a grim picture for the Dubai economy.
A man sitting between 4 rapidly spinning blades….
Yeah, what could POSSIBLY go wrong?….
I agree, there are no guards whatsoever. I know these things need to be light, but operator safety is #1. You can easily replace of fix a machine, a good operator is very precious and must be protected at all costs!
If you want to make omlette, you have to break eggs, even if it’s yours.
lol
Individual hover vehicles, trialed by US military for infantry use, were deemed far too hazardous in late 1950’s, after some nasty accidents. But even those 1950’s death traps at least had the two trialed lift systems – rocket propulsion, and rotary blades, BELOW the standing operator’s feet!
Crossed my legs, automatically cried ‘ouch’, whilst evading your comment and I am a female. Like you said, what could possibly go wrong.
After those ridiculously dangerous car stunts in flipfloppers, Arabs will ride flying bulls, this guys are good with motor sports. Good for them!
I thought this “Flying Wahhabi” would be grinded…bits ‘n’ pieces flying around…lucky bastard…Wahhabistan should give every Headchopper a machine like this….
Anyone fool enough to ride one of these is not mentally competent to operate a vehicle. My desk fan has more safety features.
It looked like he was hanging for dear life while trying to smile for the camera.
Lets see take two ;)
Buying anything mechanical made in America is a death sentence. They still haven’t been able to build a decent car despite a hundred years of trying.
So true. So much for Detroit! Hahah. Famous for making assembly lines of crap cars!
A perfect analogy for Dubai’s economy – it’s only missing the beheading at the end.
Looks fun but very dangerous