Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The World's First Commercially Available Jetpack

Posted by kdawson on from the quieter-in-version-2 dept.

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.

3 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. TBO 100 hours by RichMan · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's 100 hours of motor operation before you have to overhaul the engine.
    At 30 minutes per flight that is 200 flights.

    Still not good for distance or anything more than short hops.

  2. Re:It's in New Zealand and not in the USA by frakir · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Hiller Flying Platform was designed in 1955. It was originally an ONR (Office of Naval Research) project to develop a platform capable of carrying one man for short hops.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi5QDHKk9AY
    ok, the video's choppy but we speak 1950's goddammit

    1997: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI-4ygOrgJ4

    2005: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/11/anderson-based/

  3. Re:That's fine but... by HBoar · · Score: 5, Informative

    The martin jetpack has a ballistic parachute system for such eventualities.