The U.S. Army is developing a real world "Hoverbike" that's been a staple in Hollywood movies but is calling its version the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, or JTARV.

The Army's JTARV is a rectangular shaped quadcopter using four standard helicopter style rotors overlapped with each other. The hoverbike's full size version, if approved by the brass, will transport supplies, ammunition and soldiers to battlefields around the world.

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The U.S. Army Research Laboratory recently revealed a prototype of JTARV to the director of Program Innovation, Maj. Gen. Jim Richardson

The full-size version currently being tested weighs 270 kg. So far, the prototype has been tested tethered to the ground to prevent it taking off on its own.

The full sized version uses a motorcycle engine and controls. It can travel at up to 92 miles or for 45 minutes on one tank of fuel.  

The price for this piece of the future when it's perfected: some $60,000 per JTARV.

JTARV was invented by a New Zealand firm, Malloy Aeronautics, headed by its founder Chris Malloy. The firm is working with the American company SURVICE Engineering to deliver an operational version of JTARV to the Army.

"We combined the simplicity of a motorbike and the freedom of a helicopter to create the world's first flying motorcycle," said Malloy. "When compared with a helicopter, the Hoverbike is cheaper, more rugged and easier to use -- and represents a whole new way to fly." 

Malloy said the Hoverbike flies like a quadcopter, "and can be flown unmanned or manned, while being a safe low level aerial workhorse with low ongoing maintenance."

He said his company is almost ready to begin flight testing of the full sized version.

"We are in the final construction stages of the latest manned prototype of Hoverbike, and in a few months we will start flight testing.

"After the successful completion of test flights we will build a final engineering prototype for submission to aviation certification authorities."

What the partners have operational so far is a prototype 1/3rd the size of the real thing with a 3D printed "pilot" that reminds one of an Imperial Stormtrooper from the movie franchise, Star Wars.

TagsU.S. Army, Hoverbike, Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, JTARV, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Malloy Aeronautics, Chris Malloy