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Commercial Jet Pack Finally Real, Retails for $75K
At possible risk to the user's health, many a geek's dream is finally coming true. According to the Daily Mail, the world's first commercial jet pack will hit the market this year. Costing a cool $75,000, the jet pack is much more than the usual DIY projects we've told you about. That's right; it's not just a rocket strapped to your back!
The unnamed machine will be manufactured by Martin Aircraft Company at a rate of about 500 each year. To take flight, it uses a dual-fan propulsion system instead of a jet engine, but still manages to burn about 10 gallons of gas per hour, meaning that flight time is limited to about 30 minutes. On the plus side, the jet pack meets FAA Ultralight Regulations, weighing about 250 pounds and able to carry a 280-pound person to speeds as high as 60-mph. That FAA qualification means you won't need a pilot's license to operate it; after completing Martin's training program (and waiting for your check to clear), you can take to the skies.
Don't worry, there are safety precautions. The jet pack has an internal roll cage, and a parachute that works at low altitudes (although, the jet pack has flown as high as 7,800-feet in tests). While it sounds safe, or as safe as a jet pack can be, we'll stick to more traditional modes of transportation. Flying is for the birds. [From: Daily Mail, via: Huffington Post]
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Comments
22
Subscribe to commentskilllady80Feb 26th 2010 9:54PM
Pretty cool. I want one.
jeffnow329Feb 26th 2010 10:06PM
I just hope one does not land on me as I would never ever get in one. What's the insurance on one of these going to cost.
Mark HrutkayFeb 26th 2010 10:12PM
Guys.... It was at Oshkosh 2 years ago...... Old news, not new news
kFeb 27th 2010 4:49AM
Excuse me, but maybe you speak a different language than me? Is it called "Lying"? A Jet Pack without a jet is NOT jet pack. Can you understand that, or do you only want to attract people to your foul little piece of journalism?
al schraderFeb 27th 2010 5:27AM
These noisy things are great, but they have their ups and downs...Al-
LouisFeb 26th 2010 11:15PM
first of all i wouldn't want be caught dead in one of these "oversized" contraptions, the headlines are a bit deceiving for these turbine driven devices, on the other hand the rocketbelt will be a more ideal method of flying for it's much smaller than it's predecesors, you can check them out at you tube.com
geenatFeb 27th 2010 1:44PM
It's news because you have just witnessed the begining of a new era.
Finally, for the first time ever we have a jet pack that can sustain flight for more the 5 minutes. It's taken us almost 50 years, but finally its here! Its only going to
get cheaper and more effective from here fellas.
Just imagine; Lift Off! you blast off from your sububan driveway at 6:30am and, with the help of your tom tom, you navigate to the city watching the huge buildings get closer and closer as the sun rises behind it all......Yes, a new era has arrived people. Strap on your jet packs and say goodbye to the highway traffic jams.
tbot48Feb 26th 2010 11:19PM
I want one
PrisMar 1st 2010 1:05AM
Wasn't there a jet pak flyer at Disneyland in Tomorrowland back in the 1960s'? It seemed pretty cool to me back then. I haven't seen any more til now. What happened to the one at Disneyland?
ratmotermikeFeb 27th 2010 2:46AM
it was too micky moused to fly reliably......
wrrhoads55Feb 26th 2010 11:53PM
this pack at least has some saftey features like the roll cage and low altitude parachute and you better hoe you watch doesnt quit and do not fly over water that thing ae 250lbs take you to the bottom real quick
valleylook Feb 27th 2010 12:00AM
So it goes 30 miles (60 mph for a 1/2 hour) It burns up 10 gal of gas so 3 mpg ... Yes its expensive but its also AWESOME. If I had the money this is how Id go to work ... and I am certain the paparrazi will be using them ... actually since this is 3 avionic miles per gallon that is more like 4-5 mpg in many areas ... awesome for multi-story rescue oprations (hook a cable to a person in a burning building to the person from a helicopter ... same with water rescues, firefighting, linemen work, "nature flight vs. hike" for an amputee, finding lost people in bad terrain, mountain warfare, drug harvesting ... 500 a year ... I can see use for thousands and if you lived in NYC or a huge city you could fly from rooftop to rooftop ... Obviously the writer is a wimp vs. someone who hang glides, flys, skis, etc. Yeah its a bit pricey now but soon ... it will make cars obsolete
guodlhadMar 2nd 2010 2:22PM
10 gal/hour. 30 minutes means 5 gal consumed. 30 mile range at top speed, 6 MPG, or about what my '76 Eldorado would do around town.
Steve HartmanFeb 27th 2010 4:10AM
Say what you want, but I want one. :)
leolux10Feb 27th 2010 4:48AM
Awesome height-age!!!! 7,800 feet????? With only a half an hour of flight time, how could you ascend, then DESCEND back to earth in time??? Someone, please clear this one up for me.
Thanks.
RyanFeb 27th 2010 4:51AM
Awesome height-age!!!! 7,800 feet????? With only a half an hour of flight time, how could you ascend, then DESCEND back to earth in time??? Someone, please clear this one up for me.
Thanks.
HippieFeb 27th 2010 5:29AM
Issac Newton Law fly run out of fuel fall. It's not the fall that kills you it is the sudden stop. Was I the only one who read the article? Parachute is a safety device and can be deployed at low heights. I wonder does it have a toilet too? how about a mini bar? But it is still cool wonder if you can use unleaded fuel? Thirty mile round trip and no stop lights or traffic awesome.
geenatFeb 27th 2010 1:53PM
well.... I suppose you would have an early warning system that would alert you when you have X amount of fuel left. the "X" could equal the amount of time it would take you to safely land at Max height travel. this should fix the problem of premature fuel shortage I think.
geenatFeb 27th 2010 1:59PM
in addition, there could also be an automatic landing function that is triggered when you fail to heed the warning buzzer. I could see how this could be a dangerous feature too, however it would almost always be a better alternative then FALLING 7800 ft. lol
prissyb1Feb 28th 2010 9:46AM
To Ratmotermike
I didn't think it was a Goofy idea at the time,and I'm not too Bashful to state that here now :)