BIZ Airspeeder’s MK3 Looks Make Stars Wars Pod Racing A Reality by Brandon Berrios February 5, 2021 Do you guys remember watching that scene in Star Wars:Phantom Menace when Anakin was racing with that cool pod racer? The reason I mention it is because Airspeeder has been working on the MK line of speeders since 2017 and has just unveiled the MK3, which will serve as the companies base model for the upcoming 2021 season. The MK3 will travel at speeds in excess of 120 km/h or about 75 mph. The vehicles will be controlled remotely from the ground by the pilots for the 2021 season and they plan to have the vehicles be manned for the 2022 season. Matt Pearson, the company founder, has expressed his desire to bring to life the pod racing from Star Wars: Phantom Menace by 2022. For the past three years the MK3 has been in production and Airspeeder aims to “create a sport that will accelerate a new clean-air aerial mobility revolution”. 10 vehicles will be produced by some big names such as McLaren, Boeing, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Brabham. These newly produced speers will be supplied to teams in 2021. Final closed-door preseason tests will happen in Australia before the launch of the international calendar. These preseason tests will provide important information on the performance, vehicle dynamics, safety and powertrain technology that will help put the final touches on the plans for the manned vehicles. MK3 Safety Systems The MK3 will be operated by a remote pilot from the ground and features technologies and engineering elements never before seen on an eVTOL craft. The innovations packed into the MK3 will be tested in this unmanned testing phase. The LiDAR and Radar collision avoidance systems that create a ‘virtual forcefield’ around the craft are designed to ensure close but safe racing. The Carbon Fiber frame and fuselage were chosen for its strength, stiffness, and lightweight properties that allow for maneuverability, performance and efficiency. Powertrain The MK3 powertrain is powered by a 96 kW electric powertrain and comes as a significant upgrade to the MK2 concept vehicle. The MK3 increase 95% with only a 50% increase in weight from the previous version, the MK2. The speeders will fly at speeds in excess of 120 km/h or about 75 miles per hour. Maneuverability and Stability The MK3 speeders are designed with an ‘octocopter X formation’ which provides the pilots the ability to make the same sharp hairpin style turns as a F1 car but with the added dimension of being able to move vertically. The octocopter configuration also adds another layer of safety and ensure that the vehicle can safely land and remain in control should a rotor or battery system fail. Imagine what betting would be like when this becomes a well-known racing operation. Post Views: 334 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Brandon Berrios Latest posts by Brandon Berrios (see all) The Mockery of A Sport: Paul vs. Askren - April 19, 2021 Poirier McGregor Trilogy Is a Hot Ticket but is the Donation Beef a Show? - April 14, 2021 The Leverage Game: What’s Going on Between Jon Jones and UFC? - April 12, 2021 Master P’s Son, Hercy, Commits to Tennessee State - April 1, 2021 Related TopicsAirspeederMK3racing Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 XFL Co-Owner Dany Garcia Talks Business, Serving Others at espnW Women + Sports Summit by Candace Cordelia | posted on October 23, 2020 Women in Sports Interview Series: It’s a sure bet with Philadelphia native, Erin Kate Dolan (VIDEO) by Denise Gonzalez | posted on March 17, 2020 From Paramus High School to CBS Sports, Spero Dedes is making waves in sports broadcasting by Sunil Sunder Raj | posted on October 27, 2020 The Story of the NHL’s First Armenian, Zach Bogosian and His Biggest Fan by Anthony Paradiso | posted on September 12, 2020 More in BIZ You Know I’m Right, Episode 113: New York Post Columnist Phil Mushnick (Audio/Video) On the 113th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) On the 112th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... How the You Know I’m Right Podcast Reached 100 Episodes On March 29, 2021, the You Know I’m Right Podcast published it’s 100th episode... You Know I’m Right, Episode 111: New York Giants’ Insider John Schmeelk (Audio/Video) On the 111th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... At Age 69, Mark Chernoff is Withdrawing from WFAN Reggiano’s: Treating Every Day Like The Super Bowl