Taking a page right out of “Star Wars,” California-based aerospace manufacturer Aerofex has released video showing a kind of “hover bike” maneuvering through the desert in scenes that resemble Luke Skywalker’s dashes through the Tatooine wilderness on his X-34 Landspeeder.

It seems to be a rule that men with guns and uniforms are always the first to get their hands on the coolest new toys. “Think of the advantages of patrolling borders without first constructing roads,” Aerofex’s website says, possibly looking to some future government contracts. An unmanned model is also in the works, with a prototype due by 2014.

According to The Guardian, the contraption reaches speeds of 30 miles an hour, can reach heights of 15 feet and is steered with the pilot’s knees, like a motorcycle. The company has no immediate plans to make the craft commercially available.

Follow the Aerofex team’s progress on their flight log here.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

The Guardian:

Aerofexcorp:

 Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface.  We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig
In this Article:
#california#star wars#us mexico border#video