First Flying Platform - 1955 Hover Board

Flying Platform. US Navy demonstrates its Flying Platform in 1955, a "flying skateboard" or "hover board" vehicle that uses a direct lift rotor aircraft, using contra-rotating ducted fans controlled by the pilot shifting his body weight around to tilt the platform.

Although it looked like it could have been a massive development [and a great way for us to beat the traffic to work] sadly development ceased because the U.S. Army judged them to be impractical as combat vehicles as they were small, limited in speed and only barely flew out of the ground cushion effect.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Taperooted]

Your government couldn't even keep a headjob secret.

[Baz1128]

Marty's was cooler.

[13JHoward]

So...WHERE'S MY HOVERBOARD?!

[MrCelroy]

Coincidently it happens in 1955, the the same year back to the future was based, and there was a hoverboard in the film.

[billy jack]

i KNOW - but maybe they could put some kind of material between the blades and your feet? linen....or denim....or wait! METAL? I bet that would work....

[Speedbug90]

ad blocker m8



[poorlymadeproduction]

Oh joy just what I want. two high speed propellers spinning just below my feet.

[Matthew Steele]

hmm, seems legit

[TheRoach287]

Where is it today

[James Bamkin]

I wonder why it never TOOK OFF

LLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOL

[Cristián Arenas Ulloa]

I guess with modern technology, it wouldn't be too hard for a couple of hobbyists to build this and use segway-like "controls".

Anybody up to the task?

[Evilfisher]

never seen a newarchive begging for subscribers.