Posted on Tuesday 18 June 2013

When ET and Elliot took to the skies on a BMX in the 1982 science fiction film, ET Extra-Terrestrial, a flying bike became a dream for many young boys around the world. Now, with the assistance of leading paramotor manufacturer Parajet International, two British inventors have made that iconic image a reality with a human-powered flying bike called the Paravelo.

On the ground, the Paravelo is an ordinary two-wheeled bike - albeit one that is towing a trailer with a large biofuel-powered paramotor. But with a bit of space to act as a runway, the trailer can be docked with the bike to transform it into a flying machine capable of running for three hours on a full tank of fuel and can reach 9,000ft with speeds of up to 25mph.

Flight is achieved using an asymmetrical paraglider ‘wing’ that provides lift as the propeller pushes the craft forward. Steering is achieved by pulling handles that slightly deform the wing shape, much like steering a normal parachute. In the event of engine failure the Paravelo simply floats softly to the ground on its paraglider, and a reserve chute can be fitted in case of failure.

Its British creators, John Foden and Yannick Read, say they were inspired by the connection between cycling and the birth of powered flight - the Wright brothers were former bicycle mechanics - so designed the Paravelo to recapture that pioneering era.

To aid them in their endeavour the two inventors approached Parajet, a world leader in the design and manufacture of foot-launched personal aircraft that fit into the boot of a car. Parajet is synonymous with offering a range of powered paragliders (paramotors) packed with design innovation and excellent build quality, and were the logical choice for the pair. Parajet were responsible for engineering and fabricating the specially designed trailer which allows their Volution paramotor to be fitted to the bike.

Foden and Read hope the £10,000 Paravelo will become a mainstream form of transport, and claim it costs the same as a small family car to run. They say it is ideal for commuting as it can be folded away in a compact space, such as a flat or office.

“We are delighted to be part of this exciting project,” explains Parajet MD Jim Edmondson. “Our company is built on the spirit of Innovation through Adventure and when John and Yannick approached us with their idea we jumped at the chance to get involved. The challenge for us was to take their ideas and engineer them into something that not only was functional but matched the aesthetics of the bike.”

Yannick Read said: “If you have a thirst for adventure, but are without a storage space or bank balance large enough for a helicopter, then the paravelo is for you.”