Jet Pack? Yes Please.
Published on 09/21/2012
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By Shelby Trueax
Aspiring Rocketeers, unite. A New Zealand company, Martin Aircraft Company Limited, is actually turning that cheesy 90’s movie into a reality. If you’re as extreme as we think you are, you might want to follow this ridiculously awesome modernization in machinery, ‘cause it’s coming in hot.
The Martin Jetpack, named after developer Glenn Martin, has been referred to as “the world’s first practical jetpack” and has been a dream of Mr. Martin, and humanity in general, since the beginning of time. Believe it or not, the Jetpack is in the final stages of development and will soon be available for commercial consumers (yeah, that means you), for everything from military defense to recreational use.
Though it might not be as sleek and small as Rocketeer’s, this 250-pound flying beast can take aloft anyone 140-240 pounds, up to 1,000 feet per minute to an estimated 8,000 feet high, at 60 mph for 30 minutes. And, even though this probably hasn’t crossed your ultimate adventurist mind yet, safety may be a concern for some. Not to worry, Martin has already remedied that issue with a backup flight system and a ballistic parachute system with an impact absorbing carriage in case of emergency.
August 28, 2012 has marked a new milestone in the construction process, “The engine for the new prototype has been assembled, while the pieces of the first duct and the airframe are now going together. The second duct, and other key components, are in manufacture and are due to be ready for assembly soon.”
So, basically, if perfected, human beings will be able to fly, safely and sustainably, in the very near future.
Imagine seeing and feeling the world from a whole new perspective: Birdseye. Who knows, maybe you’ll even make some bird-y friends. So, make room in your garage next to your jetski and snowmobile, ‘cause the Jetpack is moving in.
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