Chinese Inventor Builds Real-Life Green Goblin Flying Hoverboard

Chinese inventor Song Xingyu builds a Green Goblin-inspired electric hoverboard and flies it over the Yangtze River in Hubei.

By News National Editorial Team

A 26-year-old self-taught inventor from China has attracted international attention after building and successfully flying a homemade electric hoverboard inspired by the Green Goblin's flying glider from the Spider-Man films.

Song Xingyu, from Hubei province in central China, demonstrated his invention above the Yangtze River, mountain landscapes and surrounding areas, turning a childhood science-fiction dream into a real experimental flying machine.

The invention has generated widespread interest on Chinese social media, with millions of viewers watching footage of Song riding the unusual aircraft.

From school dropout to self-taught inventor

Song's journey into experimental aviation began after he left school at the age of 14 and started working at his father's timber business.

Without formal engineering education, he developed his technical knowledge independently through online tutorials, aviation videos, technical forums and practical experimentation.

His interest in flight gradually developed into a series of ambitious engineering projects. In 2022, he borrowed money and converted an unused workshop belonging to his father into a laboratory where he could design and test his inventions.

Rather than working with a professional aerospace engineering team, Song relied heavily on independent learning, experimentation and repeated modifications to develop his flying machines.

First prototype caught fire

The development of the flying hoverboard was not straightforward.

Song's initial prototype used five small turbojet engines. However, the design encountered serious problems during testing when the engines caught fire, damaging components including fuel lines and electrical wiring.

Following the unsuccessful experiment, he abandoned the jet-powered configuration and moved towards an electric propulsion system.

The redesigned version features 10 brushless electric motor units arranged around a specially constructed frame. Several structural components were designed by Song and manufactured using techniques including 3D printing and computer-controlled machining.

The switch to electric propulsion allowed him to continue developing the experimental flying platform without repeating the problems experienced with the original jet-engine design.

How the flying hoverboard works

The electric hoverboard is designed to lift its rider using multiple high-powered propellers rather than conventional wheels or wings.

Its reported operating features include:

• 10 electric motors: Provide the thrust required to lift the rider.

• Body-weight control: The rider shifts body position to influence movement and direction.

• Hand controls: A throttle control regulates power.

• AI-assisted monitoring: Smartphones reportedly provide flight information and spoken balance guidance.

• Flight duration: Approximately 16 minutes under reported test conditions.

Song has also described using technology-assisted monitoring to help maintain balance during flight.

More than 300 metres in a test flight

One of the most notable demonstrations took place on October 6, 2026, at the Barenhe scenic area in Hubei province.

According to reports, Song and his team spent several hours preparing the location, checking the equipment and planning the flight.

The hoverboard travelled more than 300 metres during a flight lasting just over two minutes, taking off from an open area near a visitor centre and landing on a platform inside a canyon.

Other demonstrations showed Song flying above the Yangtze River and surrounding mountain landscapes.

His videos subsequently attracted millions of views and international media attention.

Is this the future of personal flying transportation?

The invention raises interesting questions about the future of individual flight technology.

Engineers and technology companies have been exploring electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, personal aerial vehicles and multicopter systems.

Song's hoverboard demonstrates how commercially available electric motors, batteries, digital monitoring and custom-manufactured components can be combined to create an experimental manned flying platform.

However, there is an important difference between demonstrating a flying prototype and developing a commercially viable aircraft.

The current hoverboard should not be considered a certified personal transportation device. Its reported flight duration is limited, and safety, battery performance, stability, emergency landing procedures and regulatory approval remain important challenges.

The machine also requires considerable skill and training to operate.

A childhood dream becomes an engineering experiment

Song Xingyu's project has captured public attention because it connects an imaginative idea from superhero cinema with real-world engineering experimentation.

His journey also illustrates how online education, practical skills and access to modern manufacturing technologies can help independent inventors explore ideas outside traditional research institutions.

Although his flying hoverboard is still experimental, its successful demonstrations over the Yangtze River have opened another interesting chapter in the development of personal flight technology.

For now, the Green Goblin-inspired flying machine remains an unusual engineering achievement rather than a practical replacement for conventional transportation.

Sources and references

1. South China Morning Post – Chinese inventor pilots homemade hoverboard over the Yangtze River.

2. VnExpress – Chinese school dropout builds Green Goblin-style flying board.

3. China Science Daily – The young inventor behind the flying skateboard.

4. Jiemian News – Inventor responds to AI-generated video allegations.

5. Gadget Review – Technical details of the flying hoverboard.