Hoverbike motorcycle-helicopter invention

An Australian inventor is developing this Hoverbike contraption which is a cross between a motorcycle and helicopter.
The Hoverbike uses a 1,170cc boxer engine from a BMW motorcycle to power a pair of propellers.
The controls are similar to a motorcycle with right and left grips for acceleration and forward and reverse movement, and handlebars for steering.

The invention comes from Chris Malloy who is currently testing it and believes could go into production, with units being sold for less than $40,000 (we’re not sure if they are US or Australian dollars).
Autoblog says that as an ultralite aircraft, the Hoverbike could be used without a pilot’s licence.

If it sounds like a pie-in-the-sky dream, the Hoverbike website quotes the following uses: aerial cattle mustering, search and rescue, aerial survey, wildlife and parks, film and power-line inspection.
See the pics and the video after the jump to see how the Hoverbike airflow is being measured.

Hoverbike motorcycle helicopter invention