The Dubai Police Force has tested the Hoversurf Scorpion3 hoverbike, and released video of trials flights of the machine during the GITEX show in Dubai last month.
Hoversurf is headquartered in San Francisco but the company’s website says its R&D center is in Moscow while its eventual production facility will be in Dubai. It is selling the electrically powered Scorpion 3 – which is available in both hoverbike and cargo-carrying unmanned variants – as buyer-assembled kits. Prices start at $55,000 for the cargo version and $59,900 for the hoverbike, with final prices dependent on the individual customer’s specification and requirements. Delivery time is estimated as between six and 18 months. An aircraft can be reserved with a $2,000 down-payment.
The Dubai Police Force appears to be considering the Hoversurf for emergency response roles. It is able to fly at up to 5m and has a range of around 6km, making it potentially suitable for getting a police officer – or, in cargo configuration, some emergency equipment – to the site of an accident that has caused gridlock for road traffic.
Sources: Aviation Week; YouTube