OT - not political but I have been following this polish company for a minute and they are best in class. I can make it political..if only we admitted more pollocks we would have had this IP here... their personal flycraft are amazing and they are just really getting started. modern materials meets modern software and sensors to give us starwars. get better abtteries and jetson here we come. Wonder if Elon has offered to buy them out yet? I would happily trade a bitcoin if I had one for one of the Jetson one crafts. same guy behind both the Jetson one and the Volonaut Jet-powered Volonaut Airbike flying motorcycle soars above traffic at 124 mph | Fox News Jet Thrust, Carbon Fiber, and 3D Printing Are Rewriting the Rules of Urban Flight with the Volonaut Airbike “The video is as real as it gets, no trickery there, not a bit of AI.” In these words to Robb Report, Tomasz Patan, the Polish inventor of the Volonaut Airbike, puts to rest doubts that tend to accompany revolutionary leaps in personal flight. And still, the Airbike’s existence jet-powered, 86-pound flying machine with a 124 mph top speed appears to defy limits of engineering possibility. ............................................................ The Airbike design philosophy is both radical and reductionist. There is no cockpit, no canopy, no side fairings. The pilot rides exposed, elbows bent forward in a superbike-rider’s stance, legs wrapped around the midframe and arms outstretched. This open-road setup is not strictly for adrenaline there’s also a 360-degree, unfettered view, adding to the overall feeling of freedom and environmental perception. At dusk and nighttime, narrow bands of red light along the rear struts enhance visibility for other airbike pilots and spectators, a minor but considerate gesture to operational safety. Though the propulsion system of the Airbike is a mystery, the family tree behind it is established. Patan’s last work, the Jetson One, used electric rotors and has already sold out its initial production run. The Airbike, on the other hand, is a step up in terms of speed and maneuverability, thanks to taking up micro turbojet engines a technology that has experienced recent improvements in both performance and dependability. Micro turbojets, previously used only in model planes and military UAVs, are being developed for general aviation use, with companies such as JetPack Aviation’s Speeder also working on similar ideas. These motors feature high thrust-to-weight ratios and small packaging but come with issues in fuel efficiency, noise, and thermal management. The implementation of 3D printing in the Airbike’s manufacture is especially interesting. In aerospace, additive manufacturing is valued for its capability to create lightweight, complex structures that maximize airflow while reducing drag. It also allows for fast iteration and customization, which is essential for startups experimenting with new vehicle designs. But the technology is not without challenge. To verify the reliability and consistency of 3D-printed components, strenuous non-destructive testing like x-ray and ultrasound scans is necessary to identify internal defects and ensure structural integrity. Certification is a moving target, with regulatory authorities trying to set standards for additive-manufactured flight-critical parts. Volonaut | Experience Future Mobility Home | Jetson - Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle
