The revolutionary flying bicycle that means traffic jams, parking fines and road rage could be things of the past
- - John Foden and Yannick Read have created a bike that turns into an aircraft
- - Paravelo uses a fan to travel at up to 15mph on land and 25mph in the air
- - It is powered by bio-fuel and can reach heights of up to 4,000 feet
- - It is on sale for £10,000 and can be flown without a licence
By EMMA INNES
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British designers have created a flying machine that transforms from a bicycle into an easy-to-use aircraft.
The invention, known as the paravelo, uses a powerful fan to propel it to speeds of up to 15 miles per hour on land.
And with the help of a parachute, the bike can also travel at 25 miles per hour in the air.
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John Foden and Yannick Read (pictured) have created a bicycle that turns into an aircraft - it is known as the paravelo and has just gone on sale for £10,000
THE PARAVELO'S SPECIFICATIONS
The paravelo takes off from any open space and reaches 4,000ft.
It has a 249cc two-stroke paramotor and flexible wing.
GPS tracker plots the bike's movements on the ground and in the air.
NIteFire strobe handlebars make it visible in the dark.
The paravelo can travel at 15mph on land and 25mph in the air.
Pioneering ‘door-to-door’ concept means the 'roadable aircraft' can be folded and packed away so it can be easily stored inside a house or carried on a train.
The paravelo features a built-in tent for flamping (fly/camping).
On a full tank, the paravelo can also stay airborne for up to three hours at a time.
However, potential purchasers will have to fork out a whopping £10,000 if they want to get their hands on one.
Designers John Foden, 37, and Yannick Read, 42, believe their creation will revolutionise the way people travel to work.
Mr Read, from London, said: ‘If you have a thirst for adventure, but are without a storage space or bank balance large enough for a helicopter, then the paravelo is for you.’
The inventors promise that the paravelo will make traffic jams, parking fines and road rage things of the past.
They also claim that no licence is needed to fly it and that it costs about the same as a small family car to run.
Mr Foden said: ‘The Wright brothers were former bicycle mechanics so there's a real connection between cycling and the birth of powered flight that's recaptured in the spirit of the paravelo.’
Powered by bio-fuel, this eco-friendly contraption can reach heights of 4,000 feet.
To take off, an electric motor powered by this bio-fuel is used to start up an electronic motor.
This motor then powers the fans that lift the paravelo off the ground.
It uses a powerful fan to propel it to speeds of up to 15 miles per hour on land, and with the help of a parachute, the bike can also travel at 25 miles per hour in the air
The inventors claim that no licence is needed to fly the contraption and it costs about the same as a small family car to run. They believe it will transform the way people travel to work
On a full tank, the paravelo can also stay airborne for up to three hours at a time.
An optional extra for paravelo are the NightFire strobe handlebars.
They have been specifically designed for the flying bike and contain xenon gas strobes that can be seen from two miles away.
Powered by bio-fuel, the eco-friendly machine can reach heights of 4,000 feet and can stay in the air for three hours on a full tank of fuel
The handlebars can be add to a 1inch or 1.25inch handlebar clamp but it does not connect to brake levers or gear shifters.
As well as providing an alternative method of transport, the paravelo can be folded small enough to be stored in an office, and it contains quirky feature including a built-in tent, perfect for festival-goers.
The inventors say this is a perfect addition because it enables the owner to detach the tent, set up camp, and then cycle off to explore the area.
Seen flying through the sky, the bike resembles the one Elliott rides in the 1982 sci-fi film E.T (Extra Terrestrial)
As well as providing an alternative method of transport, the paravelo can be folded small enough to be stored in an office, and it contains quirky feature including a built-in tent, perfect for festival-goers
The machine is reminiscent of the flying bicycle used by E.T. and Elliot in the 1982 American science fiction film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
VIDEO: It's finally here! Revolutionary flying bicycle takes to the air
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