PREVIEW

A futuristic flying machine that looks like it’s been plucked straight out of Star Wars has just been unveiled.

The Airbike, created by ambitious tech company Volonaut in Poland, is a sleek, jet-powered one-person hoverbike that promises to revolutionise personal air travel — and it looks uncannily like the iconic speeder bikes from the beloved sci-fi saga.

Described as a “superbike for the skies”, the Airbike doesn’t rely on spinning propellers like most flying vehicles. Instead, it uses powerful jet propulsion, paired with a cutting-edge flight computer and proprietary stabilisation system that enables automatic hovering and surprisingly intuitive control for the rider.

“This groundbreaking design shares a lot of similarities to ‘speeder bikes’ featured in popular science-fiction movies,” the company said. “This is the first such ‘hoverbike’ vehicle that does not use propellers to fly.”

The futuristic craft, which carries just one occupant, can reportedly reach speeds of up to 124mph (200km/h). Its compact silhouette bears a strong resemblance to today’s sports motorcycles – but this one can lift off and soar through the air.

Volonaut claims the Airbike is seven times lighter than a typical motorcycle thanks to its construction from advanced carbon fibre, 3D printing, and an ultra-minimalist approach.

Its compact design and lack of spinning blades mean it can even navigate confined spaces — a feature that could make it viable for urban environments in the not-so-distant future.

Volonaut’s founder, Polish inventor and entrepreneur Tomasz Patan, has been secretly working on the Airbike for years. After countless challenges and multiple failed attempts, Patan achieved his first stable test flight in May 2023, right in Poland.

The company revealed: “The current version of the vehicle is a result of many months of hard work, solved challenges and multiple failures.”

The Airbike has only just come out of its “stealth mode” development phase, and while no timeline or price has been confirmed, excitement is already sky-high.