AIR APPARENT
I
DAWN OF THE JET(FOILER) AGE
T
he lovechild of the surfboard, stand-up paddle board and a hydrofoil, the snazzy new Californian invention the Jetfoiler promises to kickstart an entire new field of “nowind required” watersports. Built from the same light and tough composites used in high-end race boats, and powered by an emissionfree electric motor, the Jetfoiler is the product of Bay Area company Kai Concepts, which has also launched the kiteboat, a foiling trimaran pulled by a kite that can slash through the waves at three times the wind speed. The Jetfoiler prototype was tested in open water off Hawaii and can be seen zipping through Amsterdam’s canals in a spectacular and seriously cool promotional video with chief designer
Don Montague at the, err, helm. The company expects the Jetfoiler, which can reach speeds of 40km/hplus, to initially cost around $US10,000, with batteries lasting around an hour at a slower cruising speed. For more information, visit jetfoiler.com
’s always been a bit of a downer that the visions of my childhood (OK, watching The Jetsons) haven’t manifested themselves into real life. I’m talking about flying cars here people, the ability to hit fly mode and skip right out of that traffic jam and off into the wild blue yonder… Well, by George, the age of the flying car may finally be dawning. In Germany recently, the prototype of a two-seat electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) jet took to the skies. The Lilium Jet is 100% electrically powered, produces zero emissions, has a range of 300km and cruising speed of 300km/h; and, with the ability to take off and land vertically, doesn’t need a runway. At take off, the jet’s flaps are pointed downwards to provide vertical lift. Once in the air, the flaps gradually tilt into a horizontal position providing forward thrust. The jet then flies just like a normal aircraft. The Lilium Jet has 36 electric jet engines, with built-in “ultra redundancy” (one engine failure won’t affect the rest) and, says its Munich makers, a “Flight Envelope Protection System” that will stop the pilot from making any unsafe hot-dog manoeuvres. Says Lilium co-founder and CEO Daniel Wiegand: “The successful test flight programme shows that our ground-breaking technical design works exactly as we envisioned. We can now turn our focus to designing the five-seater production aircraft.” Lilium is aiming the five-seater at the commuter market, especially airport connections and the like. For more information, visit lilium.com
June/July 2017 | PRIMOLIFE
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