Dubai Police Training on Hoverbikes, Hoping to Deploy Them by 2020 (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Dubai Police are now being trained to fly Hoversurf's first production unit hoverbike after taking delivery from the Watsonville, California-based tech firm in October, the company says.
The city in the United Arab Emirates prides itself on its futuristic status and began talks last year with Hoversurf about its eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles).
Police there hope to deploy hoverbikes by 2020 as a way to allow officers to reach hard to access areas; police and Hoversurf recently posted videos of training sessions on social media.
While the Dubai Police may be Hoversurf's biggest current customer, anyone can order one of the S3 2019 hoverbikes for $150,000 ($10,000 deposit required). Hoversurf has gotten approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the vehicle, USA Today reported.
The vehicles, which weigh 253 pounds, fly about 16 feet above the ground and can go 60 miles per hour. They achieve flight with electric ducted fans and propellers. The lithium manganese nickel battery allows the hoverbike to fly 10 to 25 minutes with a pilot. The hoverbike can also fly up to 40 minutes in drone mode with no driver.
Hoversurf is just one of several companies aiming to make flying vehicles a reality.
