The flying scooter in between reality and fictional

ONE-OFF 'Flying like a bird,' may be one of humanity's longstanding obsessions. And now maybe part of that obsession has been fulfilled with the invention of the airplane. Why only partly, because humans always try to develop it continuously up to a certain point of achievement which is considered to be the most recent or become what it should be. When was that accomplished? No one knows.

Vespa Alpha played a role as the Dick Smart's sophisticated rides in a spy action movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007' released in 1967. (Picture from: Gensindo)

In the context of the scooter, which we know as a two-wheeled vehicle that experienced its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, has there ever been the creation of a flying scooter, both fictional and reality?

In fiction, this has been illustrated by a well-known Belgian writer named André Franquin in his famous comic strips entitled 'Spirou et Fantasio' which published from 1947 to 1969. Well, in those comic strips he illustrated neatly a yellow-colored flying scooter named Zandajet. 

The amazing Zandajet flying scooter model is built based of the André Franquin's comic illustrations and sat on display at the 2006 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin in Brussels. (Picture from: Meinekleinfabrik)

Although this  yellow-colored scooter can only fly in comic books, it has actually been brought to the real world in a 1 : 1 scaled model to homage to the author and has been exhibited at the 2006 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin which was held in Brussels.

Vespa Alpha built by Piaggio in collaboration with Alpha Willis, a British company for the shooting purpose of a movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007' in the 1967 and now sat on display at the Vespa Museum in Tuscany. (Picture from: Gensindo)

In reality, there's an Italian company called Piaggio which is also known as one of the world's scooter pioneers as well as the largest and most successful scooter manufacturer to date turn out has ever made a flying scooter named Vespa Alpha in 1967. As we all know that before producing scooters, this Italian company is a manufacturing company that is familiar with the world of aviation until today.

The Vespa Alpha was built by Piaggio in collaboration with Alpha Willis, a British company for the shooting purpose of a movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007', starring Richard Wyler, Margaret Lee, Rosanna Tapados in the 1967.

Only in the movie, the Vespa Alpha is described as having extraordinary abilities, not only can it be used to go fast on the highway, fly like a helicopter, it can also function as a submarine. (Picture from: Vespacountry)

The Dick Smart's sophisticated scooter built based of the Vespa 180 Super Sport and powered by 2-stroke single cylinder 180cc engine which in the standard condition is claimed able to run up to top speed of 105kph on the streets.

In the movie, the Vespa Alpha is described as having extraordinary abilities, not only can it be used to go fast on the highway, fly like a helicopter, it can also function as a submarine. The flying scooter's front is resembled like a tilapia fish. Moreover, there is a lamp that looks like a fish's eye and a hole in the muzzle is added as the fish's mouth.

Vespa Alpha built is built based of Vespa 180 Super Sport and powered by a single cylinder 2-stroke 180 cc engine. (Picture from: Arttrav)

Even though it looks like a helicopter, we believe that the Vespa Alpha cannot fly at all, especially if it is used as a submarine. As mentioned before, it built just for the movie making and furthermore its shape and condition are not proper being a flying vehicle or submarine. Yes, at least the scooter can still be used for speeding on the streets, if you look at the engine specifications. 

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to the Piaggio's Vespa Alpha flying scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. 

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MUSEOPIAGGIO | MEINEKLEINFABRIK | VESPARESTORATION ]

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