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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."

54 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Unlikely! by thebra · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since then he has become a veteran of almost 500 flights and claims to be the world's only Rocketman.
    Obviously he hasn't seen Rocketeer.

    1. Re:Unlikely! by nomadic · · Score: 5, Funny

      Since then he has become a veteran of almost 500 flights and claims to be the world's only Rocketman. Obviously he hasn't seen Rocketeer.

      Or Elton John.

    2. Re:Unlikely! by Lev13than · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just remember that the knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

      --
      When you have nothing left to burn you must set yourself on fire
    3. Re:Unlikely! by Dejitaru+Neko · · Score: 2

      Or Stewie Griffin.

      --
      Nyo nyo, the Neko Boy has spoken.
    4. Re:Unlikely! by Hiro+Antagonist · · Score: 2, Funny

      On the other hand, if this guy didn't have a parachute at twelve stories, he did a good impression of Michael Jackson's career.

      --

      --
      I Hit the Karma Cap, and All I Got Was This Lousy .sig.
    5. Re:Unlikely! by ksp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Just remember that the knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

      Isn't that how satelites work?

      --
      What is the sound of one hand clapping?
      cat /dev/null > /dev/audio
  2. Why not do this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...from the top of Everest?

  3. Funnier... by Ploum · · Score: 4, Funny

    The highest human elevation using a Rocketbelt is funny.

    The dumbest human fall that follow this record is even funnier ;-)

    --
    Ploum.net.
  4. Come on by TexasDex · · Score: 2, Funny
    Is there anybody who wouldn't love to have one of these for getting to work?

    Of course they're probably even less fuel-efficient than cars. I'll bet the environmentalists won't be happy.

    --
    The Cheese Stands Alone.
    1. Re:Come on by agilen · · Score: 2, Informative

      I remember when I was in middle school or around there, the guy who was flying these at the time gave us a talk about them (not the same guy they talk about in that article). It was some rediculous 6 or 7 figure cost of fuel for the ~30 second flights they can take with those...while cool, probably the biggest waste of money I can imagine.

  5. next record... by ZipR · · Score: 3, Funny

    Stacking rocket men. 64 men, one atop the other, reaching to the heavens!

  6. 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!!!

  7. But where... by Suit_N_Tie · · Score: 3, Funny

    are the flying cars?

  8. Quake Rocket Jump by davejenkins · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, it seems safer than the rocket jump we've all pulled a thousand times in order to get up to those sweet camping spots...

    --

    davejenkins.com |

    1. Re:Quake Rocket Jump by HisMother · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Umm, not quite, actually; you fire the rocket just as you're leaving the ground.

      --
      Cantankerous old coot since 1957.
  9. "Down" button? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Down button? What do you mean there is NO down button?"

    "Cool your jets, Jetson (hehe). You'll come down when it runs out of fuel. That will happen soon enough, you'd better believe it."

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  10. In a completely related story... by digitalamish · · Score: 5, Funny
    The last surviving twin brother that founded the Guinness Book of World Records has died. He had held the record for longest surviving twin who founded the greatest book series ever.

    ---
    "There's no I in Team." - Reporter
    "Yeah, there ain't no we either." - Leon

    1. Re:In a completely related story... by leenoble_uk · · Score: 4, Funny

      What do you mean by modding this as funny. It's insightful.
      The Guinness book of Records is filled to bursting with pathetic 'qualified' records.
      So if you're never going to get the world record for the 100 metres maybe you can get in as the world's fastest at the hundred metres while holding a cup in your left hand.
      If you weren't the first person in the world to sail single handedly around the world then claim to be the first person to sail singlehandly around the world after setting out on a Tuesday.
      And most pathetic of all. Weren't the first person to climb Mount Everest? How about the first American? Ok the first Woman? Or the first American Woman, no the first British Woman, oh has that already gone. The first British Woman to climb Mount Everest starting out on a Tuesay whilst holding a cup in your left hand then.

  11. Coincidence by WwWonka · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...lasted just 26 seconds but allowed enough time for a couple of pirouettes.

    Interesting, I too accomplished this feat with my imaginary girlfriend over the weekend.

  12. 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.

    --


    ------
    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 micromoog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why doesn't he do it with a parachute? That way he could (theoretically) burn straight up for the full minute, going WAY higher, then parachute back down . . .

    2. Re:He would have been able to go higher but. . . by Coos · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, he ascended beside a tower, and landed on its roof, so presumably he didnt even have enough fuel to land again safely at the same level he took off from. He walked back down the staircase of the tower...

    3. 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...

    4. Re:He would have been able to go higher but. . . by negacao · · Score: 3, Informative

      He'd have to be higher for a parachute to help..

  13. Maybe you're the real nominee? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How can he be a nominee if he has 3 kids?

  14. Try http://www.local6.com/news/3022956/detail.html by dpbsmith · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.local6.com/news/3022956/detail.html isn't slashdotted... yet...

    --

    "How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!

  15. 64 rocket men by AtariAmarok · · Score: 3, Funny
    "Stacking rocket men. 64 men, one atop the other, reaching to the heavens!"

    64 rocket men on the pad, 64 rocket men. Launch one up, notify next-of-kin, 63 rocket men on the pad.

    63 rocket men on the pad, 63 rocket men.....

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  16. Also seen in Thunderball by gevmage · · Score: 3, Informative

    Also seen in a James Bond film, I forget which one. Googling "James Bond rocket pack" seems to indicate Thunderball.

    --
    Craig Steffen
    http://www.craigsteffen.net
    1. Re:Also seen in Thunderball by JofCoRe · · Score: 2, Informative

      More information about the Thunderball appearance can be found here: www.rocketbelt.nl... click on the Thunderball link on the left.

      --

      Place sig here.
  17. Hi. I'm Troy McClure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hi. I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such rocketman documentaries as "Rocketeer 2: Electric Boogaloo" and "Splattered All Over Nebraska".

  18. 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?

    --
    www.eFax.com are spammers
    1. Re:H2O2+methanol by wowbagger · · Score: 2, Informative

      The peroxide you buy at the drugstore is 3% peroxide - if you pour that over silver you will get pretty much the same thing as you get by pouring it over a wound - some warm foam.

      I suppose you could make a "rocket" by putting peroxide in a 2 liter bottle, thowing some silver (or bleach) in, and corking it.

      But you would get the same result from baking soda and vinegar.

      --
      www.eFax.com are spammers
  19. I thought they were made by ACME by scottennis · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because Wile E. Coyote has gone way higher than this guy did. Unfortunately he bashed his head through an overhanging ledge, which then broke off and fell on him when he plummeted to the canyon floor below.

    --
    Read any good sonnets lately?
  20. What is up with London? by Astroboy! · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why does London seem to be the new haven for American crazies doing weird things?

    David Blaine sits in a box by the Thames.
    Rocketman out in north Londdon.

    What's next?

    Is there some kind of American law about being weird that Britain doesn't have?

    1. Re:What is up with London? by shadowcabbit · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, it's just that in London, an American acting totally insane won't get noticed, since we all act that way anyway.

      (I kid, of course. There are some pretty weird Brits out there, too.)

      --
      "Why Subscribe?" Good question...
    2. Re:What is up with London? by 91degrees · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's all down to the recent pro-rocketpack legislation.

      You see, thanks to Red Ken's conjestion charge, a whole industry has been created to find a way around it. One of the many classes of exempt vehicles is the rocket pack (because it causes no conjestion, and a lot of the waste is water). It's now a common sight to see businessmen commuting to work with a rocket pack, umberella, and reinforced crash-bowler. Anyway, because of the popularity of these, the government has made sure the requirements for using on are quite low, thus making it the idal city to try this in.

    3. Re:What is up with London? by cosmo7 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In England you can only be eccentric if you are middle or upper class. If you're working class then you're insane.

  21. Re:got him beat by HeghmoH · · Score: 4, Funny

    How lame. Even assuming an average of two meters per person, stacking 747 people is not even 1,500 meters. I've been way higher than that in an airplane.

    --
    Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  22. Coming up next by Wolfier · · Score: 3, Funny

    Largest area covered by bloody splat ever achieved by a falling human being

  23. Sordid history of rocket belts by figa · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is this the infamous missing rocket belt?

  24. guzzle, HICK, Zooommm! by malia8888 · · Score: 3, Informative
    Looking at the caption of the photo in the article:A handout photograph shows stuntman Eric Scott of the US hovering in the sky over London using a jetpack

    Did anyone else notice that he is sponsored by Smirnoff Vodka? This is not a coincidence:P

    --
    Harpo Tunnel Syndrome--my wrist feels funny.
  25. An interesting by sucati · · Score: 2, Informative

    article about one rocket belt company.

  26. Highest Human Flight by PetoskeyGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    but my squirrel rocket belt still holds the real record. The trick is finding a good squirrel. Most can't steer for shit.

  27. Not a difficult 'Record' to beat! by d60b9y · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the article:
    There were no records before. I am the first one in the books for the record so it is neat.

    Basically, the story is "Man uses Rocketbelt and happens to measure how high he went."

    Hardly Rocket Science.... (BaDum Tish!)

  28. Sadly... by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Funny

    .. he was scorned as a "Camping Faggot" when he went up with a railgun.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  29. Re:Military Technology by meringuoid · · Score: 2, Insightful
    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.

    Sounds like another good use of military technology to me!

    Compared to the uses to which military technology is more normally put, I'd say this is a really, really great use. Only one person is likely to get killed by this.

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  30. Re:5 posts by goatan · · Score: 2, Funny
    Scott, who says his sons think he is Superman, works as a film stuntman and also builds custom homes.

    Yes custom houses with 3 floors but no stairs you have to rockpack your way up.

    --
    Saying Apple is better than MS is like saying Botulism is better than rabies.

  31. Re:Military Technology by spectrokid · · Score: 3, Funny

    When used in an packed olympic stadium, he could fall on top of somebody else. Geesh, imagine him falling into the flamy thingie..

    --

    10 ?"Hello World" life was simple then

  32. Terrifying by (eternal_software) · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When your helicopter engine quits, you autorotate to a landing. When your plane engine quits, you glide.

    With this, you have absolutely no chance of survival during a large portion of the flight if the thing quits on you.

    I'd imagine it's too low to use a parachute, but high enough to kill you.

  33. 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/

    --
    A blog I run for the wealth
  34. a two-stage award! by argStyopa · · Score: 4, Funny

    One would think that "Highest Human Elevation Using a Rocketbelt" would be something one gets just before the Darwin Award.

    --
    -Styopa
  35. That's just a minor improvement by Spamalamadingdong · · Score: 3, Informative
    There is a claim of only 140-150 sec of impulse for pure H2O2 here, so it shouldn't be hard to get 50% greater impulse by adding a fuel to consume the oxygen and increase the exhaust velocity. All things being equal, the flight time of a rocket belt is equivalent to the length of time it can hold its weight up against gravity (assuming you land at zero speed and have negligible drag effects) and is thus proportional to the specific impulse of the propellant.

    Adding fuel also increases the exhaust temperature, and if you're already in danger of cooking your legs with superheated steam this could be a problem. The system might require modifications to keep the pilot cool.

    Propellants containing N2O4 or N2H4 are right out; you'd presumably like to survive an impact which bends the plumbing, assuming that you live long enough to get the thing fuelled up and launched in the first place. Both substances are extremely poisonous.

    To really get long flight times you have to increase the performance well above what rocket propulsion can give you. You can go from rocket to venturi-assisted rocket, to rocket-driven turbofan, to straight turbofan, to helicopter. Each one represents an increase in lift*time per unit fuel, by moving more mass (in this case, air) at a lower velocity and thus decreasing the energy (proportional to v^2) per unit momentum (proportional to v). However, by the time you do this you're not really a "rocket man" any more, you're something else.

    --
    Scientists restrict study to entire physical universe; creationist
  36. 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

    --
    Eat the Path.
  37. video by edyavno · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Reuters Television" has the video of the flight and preparations.