Another Pass at the Personal Jetpack

Engadget is reporting that dreams of a personal jet pack may not be quite as distant as you might think. Skywalker Jets, created by Rick Herron boasts a 90-pound jet pack capable of propelling a 200-pound pilot through the air for about five minutes without the hassle of charred lower extremities. The production model, which he hopes to run past the FAA soon for approval, will only cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 — so start saving your pennies.

Comments

17 minutes *at full speed*....

[Joce640k]

At normal speeds the fuel lasts a bit longer than that.

PS: Jeremey Clarkson said the fuel only lasts 11 minutes at full speed, I don't know who's right, but at least he's driven one.

PPS: In Germany/France there's no speed limit on many roads. You could drive it faster in Europe than on a "speedway" (whatever that is) and the police will most likely just wave you on.

In Italy there's limits but if you're in a Bugatti they'll probably let it pass.... save the tickets for the people who drive Mercedes/BMWs.

Re:Back when I was still flying

[Wormholio]

In a low wing aircraft the fuel check is not just to see how much you have. You turn on the aux fuel pump, just in case the main pump fails during a critical flight period. You also switch to the fullest tank. You may have enough to land, but it does you no good if it's in the tank not selected.

Ideally you perform this check a few minutes out or more, before things get real busy, so that any consequences of the tank change can be dealt with (eg. didn't get the selector in the detent, water in the other tank, etc...)