Flying Trike Takes Off

Inventor Larry Neal's revolutionary three-wheeled Super Sky Cycle is powered by a 582cc engine and a three-blade, 1.7m rotor. The trike is 4.5m long, 2.1m wide and 2.5m/2.2m high with the propeller folded.

Sold to the public

The rotors are designed to fold up when not in use, allowing the vehicle to be driven on a normal road. You will, however, need a pilot's licence to take to the sky wheel where it can cruse at around 60km/h for around five hours. It needs six metres to land and can reach 100km/h on land.

Neal, a member of Butterfly Aircraft, has been awarded a US patent to build and sell the vehicle to the public. The flying trike costs the equivalent of about R635 000, about the same as a well-specced BMW 5 Series.

Neal says he has several orders, including a large one from the Texas border patrol.

Optional kit includes turn indicators, reserve fuel tank and motorcycle or nose-pod windscreen.