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Jet Pack Runs For Hours On Water
Ponca City, We love you writes "Jet packs have been around for half a century, but there's always been one problem: they run out of fuel in around 30 seconds. Now a German company has taken the standard jet pack design, run a fat yellow hose out the back, and connected it to a small unmanned boat that houses an engine, pump, and fuel tank and sends pressurized water up the hose, where it's shot out by two nozzles just behind the wearer's shoulders. Called the JetLev-Flyer, the design purportedly can reach a height of 15 meters, a speed of 72 kph, and a range of 300 kilometers based on four hours of flying time. A digital fly-by-wire system is used to control the throttle. Future designs may achieve higher altitudes, higher top speeds, and extended range, and even travel below the water's surface. The American manufacturers claim it is 'amazingly easy to learn and operate' and they're taking orders now at $130,000 each."
and a range of 300 kilometers based on four hours of flying time.
But based on the actual length of the hose, the range is more like 100 feet.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
It actually runs on whatever powers the engine that drives the pump.
I assume this is dragging the boat after you.
What exactly are the advantages over just simply using a boat?
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"The chances of a demonic possession spreading are remote -- relax."
... that is, not to have any wires or hoses connecting it to something else on the ground or in the air. Duh.
Seriously, these guys take some sort of high-output water pump and call it a jet pack?
The web site advertises two models :
155 HP = EUR 99,000 which is $125,116 (£88,122)
215 HP = EUR 119,000 which is $150,392 (£105,924)
so the Telegraph has the prices wrong.
(Exchange rates courtesy of Google)
God: An invisible friend for grown-ups.
One of the earliest uses for balloons and large kites was to tow an elevated observer behind a ship. I guess navies will be extremely interested in this. It's much less visible than a helicopter, cheaper, and safer, yet it permits over-the-horizon observation. Think of pirates off Somalia. Currently they can easily see and avoid ships, but fast patrol boats can't see them beyond a few miles. With one of these a small intercept craft can see the pirates, while remaining almost invisible themselves. Think of it as a floating artillery OP and the uses are obvious.
From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
YouTube video
Most people are missing the point of this. It isn't a sensible solution, it is a FUN solution. I would love to have a go.
wot no sig
So... what's it going to be used for? Rescuing cats from trees along the river?
Basically the same use case as a parasail towed behind a ski boat. They are a lot of fun, actually.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
to take a ride on the Firehose.
Set your phasers on "funky"!
This sounds like a recreational device, and perhaps an interesting one. Calling it a "James Bond-style jet pack" is rather misleading, though.
Safety: a fall into water from that height is not safe but not suicidal. I wonder how bad it is to be underneath and accidentally get sprayed by one of those jets? The video clip is silent; I'll bet the thing makes a hell of a racket. I wonder how many waterfronts will put up with it.
I'm thinking, team sports. An extreme kind of polo or soccer or something. With players deliberately maneuvering to hit each other with the jets and/or tangle their hoses.
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
Is this going to replace/augment the firetruck with a more flexible and maneuverable rescue platform?
Who says that it needs to be connected to a boat.
But at least it is compatible with over 70% of the earth's surface
Go and look up what a jet actually is. Here. Let me help you.
Pay particular attention to number 4.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
In Soviet Russia... the [waterskier|parasailer] tows the boat!