Extreme Toys for Wealthy Big Boys

  We've all had flying dreams, those rocket powered jet packs that fly for 30 seconds at a time may have provided the closest thing to independent flight. Now the JetLev Flyer people have come up with an ingenious alternative that uses water jets powered by a tethered floating pod.

  The floating power source uses a 155hp to 255hp 4-stroke engine that can keep you aloft for more than a hour at a time, with a top speed of 65 km/h (40 mph). Altitude is limited by the 30 ft. supply hose/tether.  A properly equipped pilot can also travel under water.

Price, depending on engine size: 99,000 to 129,000 euros. ( $148,000 - $193,000)

Made in Germany, a Florida sales/training facility is provided for U.S. customers.

A clever engineering solution for the city commuter, the Yike Bike employs the latest technology to produce a personal transportation vehicle compact and light enough (21 lbs.) to fold into a shoulder bag easily carried into the office. A sitting on the handlebars riding position might take some getting used to, and is bound to draw some uninvited comments from New Yorkers. Be sure to view the New Zealand companies well produced Yike Bike video.

The (10 km) 6.2 mile range and (20kmh) 12.4 mph speed should be suitable for the from mass transit to office leg of a commute.

A carbon composite frame helps keep the weight of this battery powered vehicle extremely low, making it probably one of the most energy efficient forms of transportation not using muscle power. The clever chain-less electric drive allows one wheel to fold inside of the other, minimizing the carrying package size.

The initial price is anticipated to be between €3,500 and €3,900 ($5240 - $5838) a Segway i2 commuter with cooler technology, a longer range, but weighing 100lbs, goes for $5350.

If you've reached the age where you only want to skate downhill, one of these motorized boards may be the answer. Battery technology advancements have made electric powered skate boards more practical. Two different manufacturers are represented here with the ALTERED and the eBoard both use a wireless throttle/brake controller, eBoard seems to have switched to a less threatening controller shape, (shown on the top board). The other slot car style controller bears a resemblance to a hand gun, perhaps a bad idea in today's atmosphere.

The eBoard, from Xero Electric Vehicles, a maker of electric scooters and bicycles, comes in 4 different versions equipped with 250 to 800 watt motors, priced from £149.99 ($250) to £319.99 ($535). The 600w Pro model goes up to 22 mph and has a range of 15 miles. The Pro X 800w, with off-roader wheels is perfect for off season snow boarders, with 25mph max and an 18 mile range. They appear to give no weight specification.

The ALTERED board comes in 7_ different models, with prices ranging from $399.95 to $799.95. All models share a 600w motor with exception if one 250w light model and an 800w off-roader. The Pro Line 600 pictured here has a 19 MPH top speed with a 10 mile range, it weighs at a hefty 40 pounds and costs $599.95, it's also available from the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. The designed in California ALTERED line are probably more easily obtainable brand for U.S. buyers.

TrendTimes has 400 watt electric boards as well as a gas powered model with a 52cc engine resembling a small go kart, that does 30 MPH, they sell it for $364. Both board types have wired controls, which are immune to radio interference.

You can have a good time while looking environmentally concerned with one of the new generation electric sports cars, like the Tetris that do 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. Here's a hub page reviewing several electric sports cars.

Those who were around in to 1980s may remember the Honda CR-X which demonstrated how a small motor can be a lot of fun when it's stuffed into a light car. Short of the prestige and price of a Lotus, the CR-X was non the less a fun ride with go cart like handling.

Due to hit the U.S. market in late 2010, the CR-Z (Compact Renaissance Zero) will be a hybrid, but geared for sporty performance, it will be equipped with a 6 speed manual transmission to provide a good driver-engine connection feel or a CV automatic.

The hybrid powertrain, based on a re-tuned variation of the Insight's, is a configuration that might be viewed as providing the 2800-pound car an electric motor 'supercharger' boost. Official specifications have not been released, some guess it will have 1.5 to 1.8 liters and 140 HP.

Look for the production version world debut at the January 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

A leaked Japanese sales brochure specifies a  1.5L i-VTEC + IMA engine, 0-100km/hr (0-62mph) time of 9.7 sec and 58 MPG which will probably translate to 41 MPG or so EPA mileage.

Since my last involvement with R/C, advanced technology and competitive Asian manufacturing have lowered the cost and raised the fun factor of Radio Control Cars, Planes and Helicopters.

Carbon fiber construction make for lighter/tougher aircraft, spread spectrum 2.4 ghz radio systems are more immune to interference, solid state gyros have made keeping R/C helicopters in the air an easier task. Thanks to Lithium battery technology, battery powered vehicles can be operated near populated areas, unlike the traditional nitro engine.

The photos her represent, I believe the largest and smallest hobby R.C planes in the world. There are larger military drones, and I imagine they would like to strap cameras to a million insects, sending them to every cave in badguyestan, these tiny hobby planes are a big step in that direction.

. The B29 is a one of a kind in Belgium, but anyone can buy one of the tiny planes (for a good chunk of money) from Micro-Flight. The weight of the B29 is 80,774 times that of the micro butterfly. The B29 has four 160cc engines probably totaling over 50 HP. (There's also a very large B52 jet bomber model worth an honorable mention)

I have been particularly interested in aerial photography, thanks to advancements in electronics, airborne cameras are accessible to everyone, see my Hub on R/C Helicopters.

R.C. Helicopters come in a range of sizes and capabilities, from easy to fly palm size indoor helis to 4 ft. long and bigger machines with controls much like the real thing, that can do acrobatics. One of the largest electric helicopters, the T-Rex 600 has 4' 5" (1350mm) rotors and just under 4 feet (1200mm) length. This 6.6 lb. helicopter can carry a 4 lb payload If you have the bucks, it can be found at TrendTimes Toys.

There's a cool 5 1/2 minute helicopter stunt video on another Hub, for the most part it's is a remarkable imitation of being totally out of control, then again flying upside down 2 inches off the ground proves there must be a skilled pilot in charge.