LEO Solo JetBike Hovers on the Horizon as Pre-Orders Open

Pete Bitar has been chasing the ultimate rush: the thrill of soaring through the air propelled by electricity. Years of work in his workshop have finally paid off with the introduction of the LEO Solo JetBike, the latest in a line of prototypes that have experienced their fair share of ups and downs.

Pete Bitar and Carlos Salaff founded LEO Flight in 2021, building on a lengthy history of testing with electric propulsion solutions. He’s had a few concepts that have flown, including the unsteady but promising VertiCycle and the jet pack EJ-1S, which was a forerunner to the Solo but needed a little more polish. Salaff, the designer behind some of Mazda’s more daring concept vehicles, brought his keen eye to the table, shaping the Solo into the sleek machine you see today. They collaborated to move focus away from a more ambitious flying automobile concept, the LEO Coupe, and toward this tiny, rider-only bike.

So how small is this thing? Well, at 6.5 feet by 6.5 feet, it’s about the size of a spare mattress, which is perfect because it’s supposed to fit easily into your ordinary garage. But don’t be fooled by its small size; the 48 little fans distributed evenly across the corners are the true magic makers here, delivering lift without the need for wings or rotors. Ducted fans handle the thrust, making things nice and simple, without requiring too many potentially dangerous parts.

In terms of performance, you can expect 10 to 15 minutes of flight time on a single charge, as well as a good 15-mile round-trip range if you fly in optimal conditions. The Solo has a top speed of 60 mph and a maximum elevation of around 15 feet. All very safe and controlled, ideal for a quick spin around your lawn or a local field. In terms of volume, it’s comparable to a loud vacuum cleaner, so there’s no need to worry about disturbing the neighbors.

When it comes to power, the Solo has a solid-state battery on board, which provides a significant increase in energy density and overall safety over current models. Home charging is the simple solution here, with shorter refuelling periods and a lower risk of, ahem, ‘strange’ scenarios. Commercial versions of these lithium replacement batteries will become available in only a few years, opening

Another trick up Solo’s sleeve is redundancy, which means having dozens of fans on standby to cover your bases if one fails. A Part 103 craft, like an ultralight glider, does not require a pilot’s licence to fly. And if you’re wanting for some hands-on experience, Bitar has been sighted hovering inches above the ground, looking very stable on the controls. The landings, on the other hand, are more cautious – albeit still far from the wild, unpredictable swings of the past.

Pre-orders are now open, with a £999 ($1,324) payment necessary to ensure a spot and entirely refundable if you change your mind. What about the full price of the Solo? Let’s just say it’s kept under wraps for the time being, but that will most likely change as production approaches.
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