Kirbi flying motorbike: how much truth is there?

Who doesn't dream of escaping everyday traffic by soaring and then parking the vehicle comfortably in the garage? Probably everyone. So every time a vehicle that allows or at least promises to fly is presented there is always great interest.

The latest flying vehicle presented is a motorcycle, the Kirbi, which promises to float in mid-air. But several things don't add up this time. The Rosa Motor Company has launched a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter and right here the first doubts begin. The total amount they are trying to raise is only $17. A paltry sum for such a futuristic project, considering that at the moment, from what little transpires, only a prototype made up of tubes, without a motor, perhaps with magnetic levitation, has been created.

Going into specifics, we read that the propulsion is entirely electric and that both wheels can lift off the ground when entering 'hover' mode. Once the motorbike leaves the ground it can move forward thanks to 4 turbine engines powered by Diesel or Kerosene or Jet A. Another unknown is how it manages to sustain itself in the air. The thrusters provide forward thrust, but how is the vehicle supported? The weight should be around 150 kg, from the drawings you can see the wings which should generate downforce and therefore make the bike rise like an airplane, but, again from the drawings, they seem to be retractable, therefore not very wide. Furthermore, despite the many unknowns (perhaps not revealed for secrecy? A big maybe) a 'take-off' speed was estimated at around 144 km/h. While the estimated maximum speed is 500 km/h. Leaving aside the many engineering doubts, who would approve such a vehicle for everyday use?

The project does not appear to be based on solid foundations. Maybe we're wrong but at the moment when we look through the company's website the only thing that has actually been produced is the merchandising. For now the only existing flying motorcycle is the Ehang 184, which looks more like a drone than a motorbike, but represents the only real step forward made in this field. We remain confident and hope to be able to fly on our bikes as soon as possible.