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Introducing the $500k Motorcycle-Turned-Flying Quadcopter
French automotive company Lazareth have created a futuristic motorbike that transforms into a flying hoverbike.
Called the Lazareth LMV 496, the flying bike is being hailed as the very first motorcycle in the world that can be transformed into a quadricopter – which it can do in just 60 seconds.
It is the brainchild of designer Ludovic Lazareth and his team, with the company even publishing a video of the motorcycle showcasing its capabilities.
The vehicle uses a four-wheel setup with its power derived from a 5.2-litre V8 Maserati engine.
On the press of a button, hydraulic actuators tilt the wheels into horizontal position. The upward thrust to the bike is provided by the 96,000-rpm Jetcat jet turbines fitted in the hub of each wheel.
The combined vertical thrust provided by the turbines equal to some 240kg, which helps the 140kg motorcycle get airborne.
Lazareth claims it has hover-tested the motorcycle on tethers to a height of 1 metre.
The Lazareth LMV 496 will be on display at the Gitex electronics trade show in Dubai in October, where it can be pre-ordered with a price tag of £496,000.