Airspeeder — Radical 21st Century Electric Flying Motorcycle

These are the times we’re living in, when flying electric motorcycles are being tested and raced. Well, we’re getting to that point, with the Airspeeder Mk. IV leading the way. Bet you didn’t know you wanted one before seeing this news, but let’s see how you feel after the article.

I Want A Flying Electric Motorcycle

Even the name sounds cool, as if straight out of a 1940s rocket man comic strip, but this Airspeeder, which is also the name of the planned racing series backed by Australian startup Alauda Racing, is anything but 1940. Hailed as “a radical new airborne motorsport for the 21st century,” the new urban air mobility (UAM) machine made its public debut at this month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Images courtesy Airspeeder

This new Airspeeder race series takes its inspiration and form from Formula E. Alauda Racing co-founder and CEO Matt Pearson recently also co-founded a global satellite internet startup that launched 4 nanosatellites into orbit in 2018. Matt has been interested in the electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) industry for some time, and now aims to reach consumer sales of a flying electric motorcycle.

Pearson’s technology will be raced around an aerial track for Airspeeder. There was a static display of the Airspeeder Mk. IV octocopter at the Festival of Speed Future Lab for all to see at the latest Goodwood Festival of Speed.

An Airspeeder Race Series, But How?

The first Airspeeder World Championship – featuring 5 teams and 10 pilots – will take place in 2020 and will open the door to broader investment and consumer interest in a flying electric motorcycle.

The Mk. IV octocopters will reach 200 km/h with a power-to-weight ratio greater than an F-18 fighter jet. That spells fun!

Matt Pearson added:

“Flying cars are no longer a fantasy, they are a reality and Goodwood Festival of Speed is the perfect place to introduce Airspeeder to the world. We’ve taken design cues from the golden era of racing, and we’re sure the tens of thousands of enthusiasts present will instantly appreciate this evolution of motorsport. Totally absorbing, and all electric, it will appeal to a whole new generation of race fans.”

And to get a better idea of the aircraft, there’s this:

As you can see, it is built for speed.

There have been a few electric aircraft races announced that should show up soon. The Air Race E from Jeff Zaltman and now this Airpseeder series shows the technology is here if the public is ready.