Wings to wheels

As an Aviator you’re no doubt concerned about the rules, regulations and compliance requirements for your new vehicle. This is where things get interesting and the regs change from state to state, becoming more onerous with each accident or incident, until such time that it becomes impractical to purchase or operate these vehicles.

Empty footpaths are safe footpaths.

Here’s the rundown nationally and state by state.

E-Scooters

Nationally

Can you ride and drink – NO

Do you have to wear a helmet – YES

Can you ride and text – NO

State by state

1. Queensland
Legal as of December 2018
i. Max speed limit 25km/h
ii. on bike paths only
iii. Must be over 16 years of age
2.Victoria
Legal when travelling below 10km/h
i.Private land only above 10km/h
3. Rest of the Australia
Not legal unless on private land

For you Queenslanders here are the top picks for performance and portability.

Red dot award winner for “Best of the Best” in 2017, the US-based Ecoreco’s scooters are designed for adults and children, the perfect design combination for your average aviator.

The newest addition, the S5, is the ultimate e-scooter for aviators. At 15kg it’s relatively lightweight (much of the weight is the non-toxic Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery, which is a safer option for aviation than your typical lithium ion battery). As it’s designed for grownups, it’s longer than your average kick scooter at 105cm x 26cm x 16 , or 41” x 10” x 6” in aviation speak. You trade speed for range: with a max speed of 32 km/h you can expect a range of 16km. If for some reason you want to ride the e-scooter for three hours, max range speed is 11 km/h which will allow you a round trip 32 km. With a throttle and braking system that eases the power into the drive train you’ll safely accelerate away without landing on your backside or fl ipping yourself over the handlebars.

E-Bike

The good news is you can ride an electric bike anywhere in the country, if you ride under 25km/h and adhere to all bicycle rules and regulations.

Whilst researching this article we were looking to fi nd the smallest and lightest bike for aviators, something practical. Then we found this … the Hummingbird foldable electric bike.

At 9. 6 kg the Hummingbird will achieve a top speed of 25 km/h and a range of 29km without pedal power.

It takes 2. 5 hours to recharge.

Hummingbird has already established itself as a boutique brand, with its standard folding bike designed and manufactured in the UK, made in a motorsport engineering facility in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

That facility belongs to Hummingbird’s sister company, Prodrive motorspost and technology specialists. The rear hub houses a 250-watt motor with a secluded 160-Wh lithium battery. The frame has a clean structure without a bulky battery pack getting in the way.

The Electric Hummingbird relies on Bluetooth-connectivity using your smartphone to manage the bicycle’s computer.

You can control the power, run navigation, monitor usage, lock up the rear drive wheel, and perform remote diagnostics.

The Hummingbird, when collapsed, is easy to carry, and the handlebars sit safely on the far side of the folded enclosure. Once you reassemble the e-bike, it cycles like a dream.

The slick tires with low drag and sealed bearings make the machine go faster without much effort.

With the 16-inch wheels, you get a quick acceleration, and it is more responsive while steering. While the frame is stiff and the wheels are tiny, you have a fl exible carbon seatpost that absorbs jolts well. The seat posts are held in place with hardware made of titanium to save on weight.

Would you buy one? Yes, the lightest folding electric bike is worth every cent if you do have the budget. The bicycle’s designed to ride around town and for carrying folded on public transport.

However, there are many other reasons why this pedelec is perfect:

Good Reasons to Buy:

• The frame is top-quality and made of carbon to make it lightweight and stiff.

• The components are well chosen and offer you a mix that works together perfectly.

• The bespoke alloy rims keep the weight down further and provide an agile and super-fast acceleration.

• The electric bike folds into a small size measuring 23 x 45. 8 x 7. 4-inches and compact enough to just fi t in a C172 or bigger aircraft.

• The bicycle has a fi ve-year warranty on the swing arm and frame and the non-wearing parts covered with a one year warranty—the battery and motor have a two-year warranty.

Buy from: www.hummingbirdbike. com