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Czech firms demonstrate electric bicycle capable of flying, but only a dummy rode

June 12, 2013 at 2:56PM
Two men watch the remote-controlled Flying Bike with a test dummy during its presentation in Prague on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.
Two men watch the remote-controlled Flying Bike with a test dummy during its presentation in Prague on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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PRAGUE — Is it a bike? Is it a plane?

Three Czech companies have teamed up to make a prototype of an electric bicycle that successfully took off Wednesday inside an exhibition hall in Prague and landed safely after a remote-controlled, five-minute flight.

Looking like a heavy mountain bike, it weighs 95 kilograms (209 pounds). It has two battery-power propellers in the front, two in the back and one each on the sides.

A dummy rode in the saddle.

Milan Duchek, technical director of Duratec, a bicycle frames maker, says more powerful batteries will be needed before a human takes a two-wheeled flight.

Journalists watch the remote-controlled Flying Bike with a test dummy during its presentation in Prague on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.
Journalists watch the remote-controlled Flying Bike with a test dummy during its presentation in Prague on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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