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Highest Human Elevation Using a Rocketbelt

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the moment-of-zen dept.

Chris Gondek writes "Rocketman Eric Scott shot 46 metres into the air in London and promptly claimed a world record. Scott, 41, from Dallas, Texas, donned his red and white jumpsuit and zoomed into the north London sky in his bid to achieve the highest human elevation using a Rocketbelt. His feat, which saw him reach the equivalent height of a 12-storey building, lasted just 26 seconds but allowed enough time for a couple of pirouettes. The Rocketbelt was devised by the United States military in 1961 but has since been used for performances and displays around the world, including the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles."

8 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Another Darwin Award Nominee by dpeltzm1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    First off i work towers tall buildings so i know a little about danger This "rocketeer" has 3 kids and does this stuff with no safety equipment! anybody know the name of his insurance agent i want in on that policy. Hello Vegas here we come!!!

  2. He would have been able to go higher but. . . by BadluckShleprock · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The rocket pack holds enough fuel for about 1 minute (or less) of flight. He had to keep enough fuel to land with. THAT's why we see this military technology at air shows and not being shot at over Baghdad.

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    There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.
    1. Re:He would have been able to go higher but. . . by Coos · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Not much higher: the climb rate of these belts is very low. I doubt he'd get enough altitude to deploy a chute from...

  3. H2O2+methanol by wowbagger · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The current rocket pack uses (IIRC) 99% hydrogen peroxide as a monopropellent fuel - the peroxide is broken down by a silver catalyst into water vapor, oxygen and LOTS of heat. This is a big part of why this rocketpack only works for tens of seconds at a time.

    I wonder if anybody has looked into using the 50% peroxide/50% methanol mix that John Carmack is using in his rocket - could this increase the flight time?

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    www.eFax.com are spammers
  4. Sordid history of rocket belts by figa · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is this the infamous missing rocket belt?

  5. Video here by jago25_98 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Let's track some video footage down eh?

    http://www.rocketmaninc.com/videogallery.html

    slashdot 'em for disabling rightclick to save!

    http://www.rocketbelt.nl/

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    A blog I run for the wealth
  6. confused by Undefined+Parameter · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Would someone mind telling me how this guy avoids burning his legs off? It seems to me that a rocket powerful enough to lift all that weight would have to be pretty hot, and being that close to the human body....

    ~UP

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    Eat the Path.
  7. Already been done, at his behest, by someone else! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    http://abcnews.go.com/sections/primetime/DailyNews /rocketbelt_021010.html
    That states that the newer, improved, state of the art rocketpack that the guy had formed a company to create went up to 150 feet and 70mph back in 1995, on its initial test flight by the guy who tested the first rocket belt.

    150ft~=46m ...