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Dubai Buys Commercial Jetpacks For Firefighters (martinjetpack.com)

Posted by timothy on from the risky-but-fun dept.

_Sharp'r_ writes: Want to fly a jetpack? Join the fire department in Dubai. In a skyscraper filled city where cops drive Ferraris and Lamborghinis, it was actually cheaper to buy twenty $150K jetpacks (plus two simulators) for fire rescue rather than find 2700 ft ladders. Slashdot has had stories about these coming for five years. A VR-headset based jetpack flight-simulator for the masses would be fun, too, even better if the object were to put out fires in skyscrapers..

2 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. It takes multiple fire fighters to control a hose by gurps_npc · · Score: 4, Informative
    One man holding a fire house on full power = a house splaying around randomly. That's a man using his full weight to hold it down.

    Also, these things tend to have heavy weight restrictions. No way it can carry a firefighter, in full gear, holding a full grown Adult - not even a thin one.

    About the only use for this might be to save a kitten or a child. Maybe a very thin women.

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
  2. Re:Is this some luddite anti-tech site? by Compuser · · Score: 5, Informative

    These are no jetpacks, no matter what the media labels them as.
    First, they are turboprops. There are no jets. In other words, it is a slightly shrunk down versions of a personal helicopter with all that implies for maneuverability and speed.
    Second, they are not "...packs". These devices are huge. The cool thing about jetpacks is that they would be devices you could carry with you and they would be the size and weight of a normal bag but then you strap it to your back and you can fly. And when you fly, these devices would not stick out much from your back, thus allowing you to clear very narrow gaps between buildings and so on.
    There is a reason why bicycles are not generally considered cool but skateboards are. You need to park one but not the other.
    Finally, these devices are totally useless for their intended purpose. If the building is in trouble (e.g. on fire) then these will not help you put the fire out. To search, survey, or monitoring you are better off with much small drones. They can hang in the air much longer, they provide clear picture and they can navigate much tighter spaces than this monster, plus they have no operator to endanger. If the building is not in trouble but you have e,g, a medical emergency on the top floor then you are better off with an elevator. Part of the reason people are smirking is because this is clearly someone in Dubai buying himself a bunch of toys with public money. Corruption is not sexy.