Military agencies, border control and rescue organisations in the US will be the first to use the pricey $NZ100,000 (about $75,000) aircraft. Inventor Glenn Martin predicts it will be just 18 months before other wealthy enthusiasts get their delivery. "We've had 2500 people sign up for one so far, and plenty of them from Australia," Mr Martin said.
Their plans for the expensive toy range from practical - "some just want to dodge the rush-hour traffic and do it in style" - to the purely frivolous. "We know of someone that would love to do stunts flying across Sydney Harbour. How amazing would that be?" Mr Martin said.
YouTube link.
The jetpack resembles two leaf blowers welded together but its capabilities are much more complex. The two-litre, jet-powered engine can soar across the skies at 100km/h at heights of up to 50m. Carrying enough fuel to fly for 30 minutes, the contraption could be used in hard-to-access areas and war zones to patrol borders and, if unmanned, to make difficult deliveries by remote control.
2 comments:
I'm betting there will be no commercial customers.
An airplane or helicopter can glide down if there's a mechanical problem.
Any hiccup with this thing and it'll drop like a brick with death to the pilot pretty much assured.
I think I saw this before in about the year 1968...meet George Jetson.
Post a Comment