Sorry, but we simply had to make a pun that pigs really do fly when we noticed this week that Dubai police have decided to buy hoverbikes to fight crime.
“Hoverbikes” have been around for a few years now from various tech companies as well as BMW Motorrad whose Hover Ride is currently a toy, but may be considered for future production.
However, early this year Russian startup hoversurf became the first to produce a commercially available model seen here in testing.
It’s called the Scorpion-3, and is a fully-manned quadcopter just like most unmanned drones.
However, the Scorpion can also fly with or without a rider … er pilot.
With a pilot, the hoverbike can fly for up to 25 minutes, move up to 70km/h (43mph) and carry up to 300kg of weight.
Without a pilot it can cover up to 6km.
We can understand Dubai police wanting to fly above the traffic.
According to a recent worldwide traffic study, Dubai is one of the worst in the world for traffic congestion, crashes and road rage.
Dubai police say it will enable them to access crime scenes difficult to reach with a car or a motorbike.
Fly into the future?
While BMW says their Hover Ride is a futuristic concept, the appearance of the Scorpion on the market may compel BMW and other motorcycle manufacturers to consider to fly rather than ride.
BMW Lego Hover RideBMW Motorrad Vehicle Design boss Alexander Buckan says the Hover Ride, made in collaboration with lego, is “full of emotion and creative energy though not laying claim to technological plausibility”.
“Our concept not only incorporates the BMW Motorrad design DNA with typical elements such as the boxer engine and the characteristic GS silhouette, it also draws on the LEGO Technic stylistic idiom.”
- Do you think the future for motorcycling is taking to the skies? Leave your comments below.