Jet Packs, Finally On Sale

Bad_CRC1945 writes "The good news: Not one, but two companies are selling jet packs. The bad news: The tech has a long way to go. In the past, potential buyers have been stymied by two problems: Rocket belts aren't for sale, and even prototypes run on modern-day fuel (as opposed to whatever the Jetsons use) which means rocket belts can weigh upwards of 100 pounds, with only enough fuel to stay aloft for under a minute." That second problem's still with us, but the article hints that jet-fuel options (for the brave) could considerably extend users' time aloft.

Comments

The Future Today in 30s - makes perfect sense

[NZheretic]

In 1980 they said that by 2010 some of us would be using jet packs to commute to work.
What they did not foresee in 1980 was the rise of telecommuting and that those same commuters would not have to travel very far.
Hence the need for only thirty seconds of flight time - it all make perfect sense.

Re:So we've got the jetpack

[ThreeGigs]

Just wear a pair of Depends(R). It'll cover the heat load of 30 seconds of flight, and the other kind of load encountered when a pilot discovers they have counted to 30 too slowly.

Re:I've always wondered

[AmigaMMC]

until the sky fills with jetpack equipped people, and one gets there faster by walking.

Yey! I can't wait to have a sky full of asian women "driving" a jetpack ;)

Re:"Trivial..."

[Anonymous Coward]

I can build it with lego bricks, in my basement!
Rocket Science is what old-timers think of when they need to use slide rules, we have php now buddy, we can code a rocketship in a webpage!

Re:I've always wondered

[lennier]

Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales
Heard the heavens fill with thunder, and there rain'd a deadly dew
From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue