The World's First Commercially Available Jetpack

ElectricSteve writes "It's been a long time coming. While Arthur C. Clarke's geosync satellites have taken to space, and James Bond's futuristic mobile technology has become commonplace, still the dream of sustained personal flight has eluded us — until now. At $86,000, the Martin Aircraft jetpack costs about as much as a high-end car, achieves a 30-minute flight time, and is fueled by regular gasoline. A 10% deposit buys you a production slot for 12 months hence." Here's a video of some indoor test flights. This isn't Buck Rogers's jetpack — it's about 5 by 5 feet and weighs more than the average human. You won't be able to commute with it (the FAA has not certified this class of device) so it's recreational only for now.

Comments

That's fine but...

[Wizard Drongo]

Where's my god damned flying car?!!

/ Also Duke Nukem Forever. Still waiting here...

Re:That's fine but...

[neight108]

If these things go fast enough, why would you actually need a flying car?

Cup holders

Re:That's fine but...

[Opportunist]

But ... but that's like walking! How should I show off my wealth while walking? Sure, I could put on nice, expensive Italian slippers, but nobody would see that. That fat limo, OTOH...

Re:That's fine but...

[Nefarious Wheel]

Just try getting it on with your girlfriend in the back seat of a jet pack. The population would plummet.

Oh, hang on...

Re:That's fine but...

[ozmanjusri]

why would you actually need a flying car? Everyone could just move with jetpacks.

And if Toyota made them, they'd very quickly move a long way up.

You may think it'd be funny to watch a hailstorm of frozen ex-Segway driving yuppies pelting down, but if one of them hit you, you'd soon be laughing on the other side of your face.

Obligatory XKCD

[master5o1]

http://xkcd.com/678/

Flight of the Conchords!!!

[OzPeter]

They really do fly this time!!

Just listen to the sound track on the training video - even sounds like it was scripted by the show

Repossession

[MillionthMonkey]

The payments on $86K are going to be a bitch. I can't wait for jetpacks to start appearing on Operation Repo.

'Jetpack' my patootie

[macraig]

That's not a 'jetpack'... it's a VTOL without the jet. And just as noisy... it's a boom box car that breaks wind.

whatcouldpossiblygowrong?

[Trip6]

Sign me up for one of these AFTER the deaths per hour rate has been well-established.

Re:wow, 6 feet off the ground

[Barny]

Probably takes all 30min of flight time to reach 8000ft, which is when you suddenly realise that redundant landing solutions are a great idea :)

Re:Not a proper jetpack!

[earlymon]

Heck, I don't even really see the point of harnessing to it with straps--- you'd be better off with a seat, maybe with and instrument panel, and perhaps a windscreen, because if you can't carry the thing on your back, what does it matter?

Might as well add wheels to move it about while on ground - and maybe a way to retract them; and then add a bit more fuel capacity for all of the trouble. At its heart is a V-4 engine - might as well upgrade that.

While we're at it, we could even toss on wings and a tail.....

Re:It's in New Zealand and not in the USA

[Opportunist]

Actually in the US I'm pretty sure they got it finished a few years ago, they just can't figure out where to put the "WARNING! Objects below you may appear more stable than they are!" sticker, the "WARNING! Do not let anyone under the age of 12 ride underneath the rotor blades" sticker and similar important safety informations.