Travel by Rocket Bike

Gear heads will love this article in the Sunday Times. Jeremy Clarkson, host of the super-cool British TV show about high-end autos (Top Gear) has gotten himself the ultimate travel vehicle: the JetCat Cycle. It’s powered by a model-aircraft jet (the JetCat P-180), which produces up 1100 lbs of thrust, running on a mixture of wax and jet oil.

The engineers claim that the bike might be able to reach a maximum speed of 70 mph! And, even though he’ll be speeding by you, don’t get too close: the jet shoots out a 10-foot-long, super-heated stream behind it.

Clarkson admitted that he’s only gotten it up to 20mph so far, but he’s ready for anything: in addition to the Kevlar housing around the jet, and a wicker basket upfront to hold the fuel tank, they fitted it with a smoke machine. “With a smoke screen, you really would beat the [City of London traffic] congestion charge cameras and speed cameras as well,” he was quoted as saying.

Ok, so maybe it’s not the greatest vehicle, but it’s sure one stealth way to travel.