An Exciting Update On The Martin Jet Pack. In May, inventor Glenn Martinโalong with fire-rescue officers and crews on board a pair of chase helicoptersโwatched as his jetpack flew for nine minutes and 43 seconds, soaring 3,500 feet into the New Zealand sky. Had the machine been holding a live person instead of a 150-pound dummy, it would have smashed the record for the longest and highest jetpack flight ever. Every other such device in history has managed to be airborne for, at most, only a minute or two. But Martin was out to do more than set records with his demonstration. He wanted to prove that his design was safe enough to become the first commercial jetpackโone anyone could buy and fly. Martin says that he hopes people will also use his jetpack for recreation. Heโs designing it to meet FAA ultralight standards, which will limit the speed to 63 mph and flight time to around 30 minutes. Flyers wonโt need a pilotโs license, but they will need about $100,000 to buy the rig, which includes a mandatory two-week training session. The first units could ship as early as next year. (read full article at: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/finally-jetpack-flies)
I for one am really excited about this, maybe in a few years they won’t be so expensive and we will all be giving each other fly-by Hi-Fives! See you in the air my friend!
