‘Back To The Future’ Hoverboard Is Real And Will Be Unveiled Next Week

A real, working version of the Back to the Future II hoverboard will soon be released just in time for October 21, the day Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) arrived in the future in the 1989 movie. Most fans and moviegoers will remember the well-known scene where Marty is chased by several hooligans while riding the iconic hoverboard.

The Back to the Future II hoverboard is a dream finally realized by husband and wife team, Greg and Jill Henderson. They have been working since 1998 to design and develop the film’s most famous gadget. Last year, the couple launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the project, and hopeful hoverboard owners invested over $500,000 in the venture which led to an actual working prototype.

The working model is named the Hendo 2.0. According to a report from PC, the Hendo 2.0 will be sleeker and quieter than previous design versions.

Using Magnetic Field Architecture (MFA) technology, as patented by Arx Pax, the Back to the Future II hoverboard uses four disc-shaped engines hiding just underneath the board to create a magnetic field. And, just like in the movie, the board and rider will float a few inches above the ground.

Arx Pax CCO Jill Henderson is excited about the potential opportunities of the hoverboard.

“Our second-generation hover engines, which power Hendo 2.0, are stronger, more efficient, and open up new possibilities for the way we transport objects and people.”

Even skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk got to let his McFly out and ride the Hendo. In 2014, Hawk tested the previous version of the hoverboard and pointed out some potential design flaws while offering feedback about improvements. Arx Pax CEO, Greg Henderson, explained the importance of getting Hawk involved in the project early on.

“Getting Tony’s feedback made a huge difference in our design approach. After some long discussions, we all agreed that the hoverboard should be as intuitive as possible, so we used a traditional deck as the user interface.”

The real hoverboard may be a vast improvement over the fictional one that appeared in Back to the Future II. This version has USB connectivity, simple engine controls, and several charging and power management features, as well as a switch for remote power command.

It should be noted that the Hendo 2.0 does not currently work exactly like the BTTF II hoverboard as seen in the movie. As described by Discovery News, the board does float using a magnetic field like its fictional counterpart, but it needs specially designed metallic surfaces to operate. However, the board has the potential to act just like a traditional skateboard would.

The Hendo 2.0 isn’t the first time a Back to the Future II hoverboard has been tried. Lexus came out with its own version in June which used magnets and liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors to levitate. Also, Mattel made an attempt to create their own exact version of the movie one but it never actually worked.

With October 21 quickly approaching, be on the lookout for other futuristic items from the movie that may make a real-life appearance soon.

In a previous Inquisitr report, PepsiCo will be releasing “Pepsi Perfect” on October 21 in limited supply. Ever since we saw Marty sitting in a diner and drinking a “Pepsi Perfect,” many have wondered if the beverage would ever become a reality.

Pepsi Is Releasing the Bottle from "Back to the Future II" http://t.co/TbqW6wkVkv pic.twitter.com/0Jon1h8bjz

— Popular Mechanics (@PopMech) October 7, 2015

Even a Jaws 19 movie trailer was released by Universal Pictures in honor of the scene in Back to the Future II where Marty is startled by a 3D shark hologram.

Another long-awaited accessory will be here soon. Nike has plans to release self-lacing, light-up shoes just like Marty had in the 1989 sequel. The shoes are said to be an improved version of the Air Mag line.

The official release of the Hendo 2.0 Back to the Future II hoverboard is October 21. If a final working version goes into production and made available for sale to the public, it will be a wish satisfied by many fans who secretly longed to have one way back in 1989.

[Photo courtesy: Youtube screenshot]