Jetpacks - at last
Discussion
And as if you couldn't guess, it's NZ, home of the adrenaline sports nutters who are behind it:
Want.
Flying into the future: New Zealand company to make personal jet packs
Martin Aircraft Company, in Christchurch, New Zealand, aims to make 500 packs a year which will sell for around £50,000.
The 200 horsepower dual-propeller packs are the brainchild of inventor Glenn Martin who unveiled his machine for the first time in July last year.
Because it weighs less than 254 pounds (115kg) the jet pack does not require a pilot's licence. It is capable of travelling 30 miles in 30 minutes on a full tank of fuel.
And recent tests have seen the newest model reach heights of up to 2,400 metres and top speeds of 60mph.
But only now has sufficient investment been found for the company to begin production of the craft, which will also begin at an undisclosed site outside New Zealand.
Martin Aircraft Company chief executive Richard Lauder said the pack could be perfect for the emergency services, private users and even the military. He said: "This could be life-saving stuff. For us this is an excellent commercial step."
Mr Lauder would not identify the partner other than to say it was an international aircraft company.
The joint venture would be run through a newly created company.
The aircraft company would have a controlling 51 per cent stake. Both Mr Lauder and jet pack inventor Glenn Martin would be directors of the new company.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australi...
And a video of testing:
http://www.martinjetpack.com/video-gallery.aspx
ETA: Apologies if a repost, search function appears to be knackered again.
Edited by OzzyR1 on Friday 26th February 12:35
shakotan said:
But it's not a jet pack, it's closer to a heli pack than a jet pack?
Martin Jet Packs website said:
Science
Science says that a Jet is a ‘coherent stream of particles moving in a parallel direction’.
This is why we talk about the ‘jet stream’ in the upper atmosphere. This is why a jet ski is called a jet ski. This is why a jet boat is called a jet boat. This is why the Coast Guard call their water jet powered craft ‘jet propelled’.
This is why our device is a jetpack. There is a coherent stream, all the engineering calculations, control calculations etc. are based on the fact that there is a jet of air exiting the fanjets.
Engineering
Many engineers, particularly in the aviation industry, make distinctions.
A gas turbine powered’ prop is not a jet but uses gas turbine calculations.
Whereas a gas turbine powered fan (turbo fan) they call a ‘jet’ in actuality it could more correctly be called a ‘gas turbine powered ducted fan’.
Common Usage
To most people a device that you strap on your back which burns fuel, makes noise and you fly around in, is a ‘jetpack’. The majority of people call the Bell Rocket Belt a ‘jetpack’.
Actually it is not what an engineer would call a jet, it is a rocket. However, by the science definition, the coherent stream of steam coming out of the nozzles is a ‘jet of steam’.
Science says that a Jet is a ‘coherent stream of particles moving in a parallel direction’.
This is why we talk about the ‘jet stream’ in the upper atmosphere. This is why a jet ski is called a jet ski. This is why a jet boat is called a jet boat. This is why the Coast Guard call their water jet powered craft ‘jet propelled’.
This is why our device is a jetpack. There is a coherent stream, all the engineering calculations, control calculations etc. are based on the fact that there is a jet of air exiting the fanjets.
Engineering
Many engineers, particularly in the aviation industry, make distinctions.
A gas turbine powered’ prop is not a jet but uses gas turbine calculations.
Whereas a gas turbine powered fan (turbo fan) they call a ‘jet’ in actuality it could more correctly be called a ‘gas turbine powered ducted fan’.
Common Usage
To most people a device that you strap on your back which burns fuel, makes noise and you fly around in, is a ‘jetpack’. The majority of people call the Bell Rocket Belt a ‘jetpack’.
Actually it is not what an engineer would call a jet, it is a rocket. However, by the science definition, the coherent stream of steam coming out of the nozzles is a ‘jet of steam’.
Edited by Matt Evans on Friday 26th February 13:22
That's the commuter hack sorted, cost "no more than a high end motorcycle".
Seriously, that really is a very good solution to personal transportation.
Perfect with it's range too, although I can see the Health & Safety womle here having a feild day if I tried to land it in the carpark.
Have lodged an enqury with them.
Seriously, that really is a very good solution to personal transportation.
Perfect with it's range too, although I can see the Health & Safety womle here having a feild day if I tried to land it in the carpark.
Have lodged an enqury with them.
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