MAKE: Blog: HOW TO - "Fly" a human powered hydrofoil

HOW TO - "Fly" a human powered hydrofoil - the "Aquaskipper"

Tim shows you how those Aquaskippers work and how to take one out for a spin...

The "Aquaskipper" is a human powered hydrofoil made by Inventist.com . It's similar to the original Swedish Trampofoil, which is no longer available. There's also one called the "Pumpabike" from South Africa.
They're also called "hull-less watercraft" and "flapping wing propulsion vessels". You bounce up and down to make the wing fly and propel you. If you stop you fall into the water and swim back to the dock. It's completely ridiculous and works really well once you get the hang of it. It's hard to do at first but that seems to make it even more fun.

HOW TO - "Fly" a human powered hydrofoil - the "Aquaskipper" - - Link & M4V.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Feb 5, 2007 01:35 PM
Instructables, MAKE Podcast, Transportation | Permalink | Comments (5)

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Good to see that Kevin McDonald is getting work.

Posted by: mastershake916 on February 5, 2007 at 3:49 PM

I was very amused with the mans Chicken Helment, gread addition, seeing how you looking like a strutting cock.

Posted by: HunterJHill on February 5, 2007 at 7:40 PM

Oh my god, I have never laughed so hard. The best was when he pushed off and just immediately went head-first into the water. The guy that could do it made it look so easy.

Posted by: psycho_penguin on February 5, 2007 at 7:42 PM

See, there's this thing called a stall...

Posted by: PockyBum522@gmail.com on February 6, 2007 at 11:20 PM

so when do we get regular air versions, I wanna jump off a building and jump up an down like a baboon whilst flying away. ;)

Posted by: Prozacgod on February 8, 2007 at 2:05 PM

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out... Welcome to the Make Blog!

Features and more @ MAKE!

MAKE @ The NYC Toy Fair 2008 - Covering DIY!
HOW TO - Build the arms of assistance.

MADE in Japan - Part I.
MADE in Japan - Part II.
MADE in Japan - Part III.

Make store - Blinky bug kit - Blink!
Make store - Loud Objects Noise Toy Kit

Makers - MAKE Flickr pool contest. Win cool stuff!
Makers - Join the MAKE Facebook page - Meet other makers.
MAKE on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet!
What you're reading in MAKE - Data!
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311

Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker

Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher

Suggest a Site!

Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT

Becky Stern
Culture jammer

Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker

Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker

Current Podcast

AHAB High Altitude Ballooning - Best of Weekend Projects mp4|mov|hd|3gp|3g2|itunes This week on Best of Weekend Projects, we look back at part two of the AHAB (High Altitude Balloon Adventure). In this epic Bre & Co. travel to Eastern Washington to launch a GPS and camera enabled balloon... More...

Get the Make blog sent via email

Enter your email to receive the Make blog each day:

WOW! Thanks to everyone involved with Maker Faire Austin: attendees, makers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and crew...it was AMAZING! Over 350 Makers and 20,000 attendees! Be sure to check out the photos @ Flickr, and our Maker Faire posts for all the action! Next year, scheduled Maker Faire's are: Bay Area: May 3rd & 4th, 2008 - San Mateo County Fairgrounds and Austin: Oct. 18th & 19th, 2008 - Travis County Expo Center!