Floating and Racing Ahead: Airbike, the Flying Personal Vehicle, Set for Production Next Week [Video]

Low-Altitude Flight at 200 km/h Without Propellers
Polish Startup Volonaut
Small-Scale Production Scheduled for Next Week... Expected Price: 140 Million Won

Earlier this year, a video of a hoverbike that drew attention on social networking services (SNS) for its resemblance to the personal flying vehicle "Speeder Bike" from the movie "Star Wars" has been confirmed to be real flight footage, not computer-generated imagery.

The "Airbike" developed by Polish startup Volonaut is flying in the sky. Volonaut

On July 23, the Polish startup Volonaut released an original audio video of its "Airbike" model in actual flight on YouTube, stating, "No CG or AI technology was used at all," and announced, "Pre-orders for Airbike will be available starting August 1."

In the video released by Volonaut, the Airbike maintains an altitude of about 10 meters while either moving forward or hovering in place. There were no signs of the body shaking during flight. Volonaut explained, "The Airbike can fly stably using computers," and added, "It helps the pilot easily control the vehicle."

Polish startup Volonaut released actual flight footage of its model Airbike on YouTube, accompanied by the original audio. YouTube capture

The Airbike is designed for a single passenger, can reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h, and is equipped with jet propulsion and an automatic stabilization system. Because it has no propellers, it does not cause damage to people or objects during takeoff and landing. Propellers are the most common component used to generate lift for flying vehicles. Since they rotate hundreds of times per minute, contact with people or objects can cause severe damage.

Unlike conventional flying vehicles, the Airbike adopts a system that forcefully expels air. In the video, when the Airbike flies, sand and dirt are powerfully blown up from the ground, and trees are seen swaying. Volonaut commented, "Because there are no rotating propellers, it can take off and land easily even in confined spaces," and evaluated, "It will dramatically increase the potential for personal aerial mobility." However, Volonaut did not disclose the specific power source or propulsion method.

The appearance, movement, and speed of the Airbike closely resemble the "Speeder Bike" featured in the 1983 film "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi." The scene where Speeder Bikes race in groups through the air in a chase is especially regarded as iconic. Inventor Tomasz Patan stated, "The goal was to make the flying vehicles from science fiction movies a reality."

This model is scheduled to enter small-scale production starting next week. The expected release price is about 140 million won. It is also known that Volonaut is developing a lightweight version that can be operated without a pilot's license, and plans to release a commercial model flight video in 2026.