Chinese inventor Fan Shisan has successfully engineered a functional, rideable “flying sword” inspired by the iconic weapons found in Chinese “Xuxia” fantasy literature.
The 4.6-meter-long prototype utilizes 24 internal ducted fan engines to provide the necessary vertical thrust, overcoming significant stability challenges posed by the vehicle’s elongated, asymmetrical design.
The machine was created by Fan Shisan, who drew inspiration from the flying swords commonly seen in Chinese fantasy novels and television dramas.
The prototype is about 4.6 meters long and uses multiple rotors hidden within the structure to lift a rider off the ground.
After 18 months – (nearly 2years) of development, the machine can now carry a rider and sustain flight for up to three minutes at low altitudes.
The project is the latest in Fan’s series of scientific recreations of martial arts myths, following his work on high-tech props and gesture-controlled drone swarms.
Current flights last only a few minutes and are conducted at low altitude, but the vehicle is fully functional and can be controlled while carrying a person.
For many viewers, it looked like a scene taken directly from fiction.
For Fan, it was a technical project years in the making.
Whether it remains a novelty or becomes something more, it’s an unusual example of how imagination sometimes finds its way into engineering.
While the prototype currently requires precise control to remain stable, Fan is actively working on future iterations that aim to incorporate AI-driven navigation and body-movement-based steering.
His work has gained significant attention for successfully bridging the gap between cultural folklore and mechanical engineering.
Fan continues to refine his design, focusing on safety and maneuverability, as he works toward his broader goal of bringing legendary “wuxia” experiences to life. For now, the vehicle serves as both a viral phenomenon and a testament to the potential of hobbyist innovation in experimental aerial robotics.
Although the flying sword is a specialized passion project rather than a commercial product, it stands as a unique example of using engineering to manifest imaginative concepts.
