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New Video Shows the Airbike Taking Off and Landing in Wooded Area, with Visible Thrust, But Authenticity Still Sparks Online Debate
The startup Volonaut is back in the spotlight with the release of a new video of the Airbike, its flying motorcycle. The recording, published on Wednesday (23), shows the vehicle taking off and landing in a wooded area.
The images promise to clarify questions about the authenticity of the project, but continue to divide opinions on social media.
Video Raises Suspicions, But New Images Impress
The first public appearance of the Airbike took place on May 4, in a video showing a person dressed as a scout trooper — a character from the Star Wars universe — piloting the motorcycle through a forest.
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The reaction was immediate. Many believed it was a production using artificial intelligence. Others suggested that the video was digitally manipulated. Now, with the new images, the debate has intensified.
The scenes clearly show heat waves coming from the bottom of the motorcycle, indicating real thrust. The movement of air at ground level also suggests considerable force to keep the motorcycle in the air.
The Airbike appears to move powerfully during flight and land in a controlled manner, although the center of gravity seems slightly tilted backward, towards the pilot — who, according to visual estimates, weighs about 70 kg.
Experts Remain Divided
The specialized site New Atlas published a new analysis of the latest video. The text notes that “the main area where the airflow hits the ground seems to be well concentrated and precise.”
The vehicle appears to have a visible main thruster, but the site speculates that smaller motors may also be hidden, as the company has not yet disclosed details about the complete propulsion system.
Tomasz Patan, founder of Volonaut, told New Atlas that he cannot reveal the exact thrust value, but stated that it is “substantial and sufficient to ensure safe redundancy.”
According to him, the maximum flight time of the Airbike is ten minutes, depending on the pilot’s weight.
Airbike: Design Inspired by Science Fiction
The entrepreneur explained that the inspiration for the project came from long-held dreams: “It has always been my dream to create a personal flying machine so futuristic and iconic that it could be placed in a science fiction movie setting,” he said.
He also highlighted the technical challenge of creating reliable, compact technology with a bold design. “The result is an unprecedented vehicle, with incredible performance and an impressive look that really resembles a sports motorcycle. And it flies!,” he added.
No Pilot’s License Required
The commercial version of the Airbike will have a maximum speed limited to 102 km/h. This limit was chosen so that it can be classified as an ultralight aircraft in certain regions.
Thus, it will not be necessary to have a traditional pilot’s license. Just an intensive course offered by Volonaut itself.
Embedded Technology and Advanced Control
Flying is managed by a fly-by-wire system with triple redundancy. This system is connected to a triple-redundant onboard computer responsible for stabilization control.
This setup allows the motorcycle to perform automatic takeoffs and landings, as well as maintain stable flight smoothly.
Limited Production and Million-Dollar Price of the Airbike
Another highlight is the convenience of refueling. According to New Atlas, refueling the flying motorcycle can be done in about a minute.
Journalist Joe Salas suggests that the system may use two or more JetCat P400 Pro micro-turbines, or similar models. However, the company has not confirmed this detail.
The flying motorcycle from Volonaut supports pilots weighing up to 95 kg. According to an official statement, the Airbike will be produced in limited quantities.
Reservations will open on August 1st. The price? US$ 880,000 — nearly R$ 5 million in direct conversion.
With information from Olhar Digital.
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