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More Flying Bikes! Paravelo Folding Flying Bike on Kickstarter

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Flying Form Paravelo

Not long after a flying bike getting airborne in Prague, the Paravelo has made its way onto Kickstarter. Already tested with human pilots, the hybrid folding bike, powered para-glider, camping tent is looking for funding. Paravelo’s creators see it as the ultimate recreation vehicle – ride your bike to a field, take off, fly to an unknown destination, land, set up camp, and then use the bike to get around. Then pack back up and fly back home.

Ready for some flying bike camping? Check it out after the break.

Is it a folding bike? A Para-glider? It’s both.

Towing Paravelo

In bicycle mode, the powered para-glider unit attaches to the seat post like a trailer, allowing the rider to ride to a suitable air field (they recommend a football field size) to take off. The motor is then attached to the main frame of the bike allowing the rider to move from the seat of the bike, to the seat with the harness. From there it functions as a traditional powered para-glider using a wing and a large fan powered to fly. The Paravelo can fly up to 3 hours at 25 miles per hour on its 249cc two stroke motor. You can also detach the fan motor from the bike and wear it back mounted for improved performance in the air. According to Paravelo a license is generally not required to fly, though you may want to double check in your location, especially if you are outside of the UK.

From there once you land there will be an included lightweight XploreAir tent that makes use of the fan frame as support. You can set up camp with the bike disconnected to use it like any other bicycle to explore. So it is essentially 3 in 1, a folding bicycle, powered para-glider, and tent camper.

Unfortunately the Kickstarter does not include the full flying bike as a reward, only the folding bike with a chance to purchase one of the first 5 flying bikes once they’re completed. However this is a cool opportunity to learn how to fly with the Paravelo team in Spain, along with their NiteFire strobe handlebars – just note that the bars aren’t compatible with brake levers or shifters.

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Pancakes
Pancakes
10 years ago

Wouldn’t the FAA have a problem with this?

Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

Single-seat, less than 254 pounds… it should qualify as an Ultralight Vehicle.

Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

Put a decent FS rig on the front of that thing and you could do “fly-up / ride-down” shuttles (no GF driver required).

Matt
Matt
10 years ago

*trike

Matt
Matt
10 years ago

nvm……………………………………

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
10 years ago

“a license is generally not required to fly” – in the developed parts of the world I would say it is generally required, with some exceptions. Regardless, if you want to live a long life you will get a licence, and good training. Your insurance company may have opinions on the matter too. (I have experience with foot-launched paramotoring, not trikes.)

Hoffa
Hoffa
10 years ago

good point, under 254 pounds and speed of 67mph or less is an ultralight. No pilot license needed.

This is just the thing I need for post-apocalyptic travel.

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
10 years ago

As for alternatives, the Flyke has been sold for many years and is afaik the only one currently on the market. It’s a combination powered paraglider and front wheel driven recumbent delta trike:
http://www.fresh-breeze.de/en/products/trikes/flyke.html

Then there is this brilliant homebuild project, mixing an unpowered paraglider with a recumbent bike of the python type (center steering). He launches and lands on foot, with the folded bike on his back. The bike seat is also used as the seat in flight.
http://myrecumbent.blogspot.ro/2013/05/python-turned-peregrine.html?m=1

BMORRA
BMORRA
10 years ago

GAHHH kill it before it lays eggs

Jason
Jason
10 years ago

Some one get Darwin a cup of coffee, he’s going to need to be on his A game for this one.

Greg @ dsw
10 years ago

Interesting. But I think most intriguing is the hint of other possible bike/plane creations. For example, take the terrafugia flying car one step further, but now with a cycling transport angle instead. Basically, we can have the combination of a useful cargo bike and ultralight aircraft with foldable fabric wings and stowable prop. So you can bike to the nearest small GA airport, take off, land when appropriate, and then bike to your final off-airport destination. Maybe even have the option to separate the bike from the engine/wings. The whole machine would fit in a big shed or in a small single car garage and its cost would likely be very affordable, assuming you get the flight training. This may have huge potential …

RC
RC
10 years ago

A Flying Should be pedal powered! This is a bike transported moto-paraglider. I still want one though.

Ydnar
Ydnar
10 years ago

Awesome idea. You can fold up the bike and take it with you in the ambulance.

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