The Segway was supposed to be revolutionary, but somehow it just didn't do it for us. However, this Vertipod is like a flying Segway. Now that's different. Fueled by gasoline or ethanol, its 440cc lawnmower-like engine can propel the craft at 40 MPH, fifteen feet above the ground. Its controls are similar to a Segway; you lean in the direction you'd like to fly, although it's also equipped with a rudder that steers it from side to side.
Sound like fun? The Vertipod's creator, high-tech flying car tinkerer Pete Bitar, says for $10,000 you'll soon be able to get the vehicle in the form of a kit that you can build over a weekend, if you're mechanically inclined. It's classified as an ultralight aircraft, and is probably just as dangerous or more so, but hey, going 40 MPH, fifteen feet above the ground? How dangerous can that be?
Danger Room, via Gizmodo
editor@dvice.com
By Fernanda Barth at 7:27 AM ON 11/29/07
is this realy avaliable?????
By taash at 8:22 AM ON 11/29/07
Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" tried to build a jet pack from the most powerful engine they could find, with a budget of $10k. It couldn't lift itself off of the ground. Read about it at http://mythbustersresults.com/episode32
By Lokisdream at 11:27 AM ON 11/29/07
i would love to see what the Mythbusters could do to this machine
By Isoline at 1:59 AM ON 12/01/07
Wow, so years after Sean Connery popped out of a missile in a similar device for one of the James Bond movies we now get this. Okay, I just hope security stooges don't get ahold of them before us regular guys.
By Southardlaw at 6:44 PM ON 12/01/07
Does anyone have a link to see video of this machine in action?
By Xriz at 8:18 PM ON 12/01/07
I want one
F**k the Mythbusters
By the way, Why dont americans tolerate foul langue like F**k and like???
By SONOFASNUFFY at 9:06 PM ON 12/01/07
How can we get one of these for the final table?
By Gymnos at 12:28 PM ON 12/02/07
How dangerous can that be? Depends on who's under you when you tank.
By J.D.Hogg at 6:54 AM ON 12/03/07
This was originally developed by Hiller Aircraft in the 1950s and it worked then so it should work now. It was called the Hiller Flying Platform. It won't do 40mph though, more like 14mph. There were technical limits to its practicality but it was pretty benign in its handling and easy to learn.
By sadf at 6:15 PM ON 12/03/07
Mythbusters are crap. It's perfectly duable. A helicopter can lift itself from the ground. And MUCH more. Why can't this little thing do it?
By Kurzon at 4:13 PM ON 12/04/07
looks like fun to me - I too enjoy mythbusters, but am well aware( and get reminded almost every episode) that they are nt scientist and make very basic errors often
By proof at 4:19 PM ON 12/05/07
VIDEO OR IT DOESN'T WORK!!!!!
By proof at 4:19 PM ON 12/05/07
VIDEO OR IT DOESN'T WORK!!!!!
By JohnnyFive at 12:42 PM ON 12/18/07
There's no way that can fly. A great accomplishment like this would definitely come with a video. Since there is no video, I believe this guy to be a scammer.
By nick at 2:39 PM ON 12/19/07
Hello,
Where can i order this product?
Kind regards
Nick
By ismet at 6:02 AM ON 01/07/08
we have interesting your the flaying segway send me details information and price please.
ismet ergin
best regards