Today's Article

“This particular machine has a 2continuous strand 3carbon-fiber.”

Where 3D printers and machining devices help 4realize dreams.

“Not very long ago this wasn’t a reality, so it’s an exciting time to be alive.”

John Manning is 5taking full advantage.

“As a kid, I, I just always dreamed about flying airplanes.”

And he can do that now.

“Never wanted to do anything else.”

But why not take it a lot of steps further with something smaller. They call it a personal flying machine.

“This is something that is our real 6long-term goal/vision is something that’s kinda like a flying motorcycle.”

As co-founder of ElectraFly, Manning and his team design custom drones like this one, made for 7delivery. But their dream is to use that technology to make flying more 8accessible.

“Recreational vehicle is probably where this is all gonna start. The FAA has 9regulations that kind of limit the use of a lot of these products right now.”

It will have to be a very gradual process. So far, they’ve tested it using very heavy boards, with hopes to try a very limited 10manned flight later this year. Eventually, he says it will be fully electric.

“So we have a small jet-engine down here that allows us to 11offset the 12lifting requirement of the batteries.”

Right now the power-cells aren’t strong enough to handle that lift on their own, but Manning believes they’ll get there, and his team will 13keep on pushing.