By now most Festival of Speed showgoers are familiar with what they'll see going up the Goodwood hill. Some cars will be slow and smoky, others courageously fast, and at least one will brake too late going into Molecomb. This year, however, will bring something many of them will likely have never laid eyes on before: a jet pack.
The JB11 is the latest creation from Californian company Jet Pack Aviation, and is making its European debut at Goodwood. The pack is notable for a few achievements, perhaps most importantly that it is the first jet pack to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.
JPA says the JB11 capable of reaching 200mph(!) and flying at more than 10,000 feet for up to 12 minutes. It has six 'turbojet' engines - four for power, two for emergencies - which can be powered by jet fuel or diesel, and are controlled by the handle on the pilot's right side. Perhaps best of all, the controls also feature a button for a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) system, which Jet Pack Aviation says is a world first. Apparently there were similar 'rocketbelt' packs in the 60s, which could achieve the same thing, but ran on H2O2 fuel and could only fly for 30 seconds.
Once in the air, the JB11 is manoeuvred by the control arms and the throttle. Landing requires no parachute or landing pad, the pilot in theory just reducing throttle gradually and descending slowly to the ground. Should the worst happen then the jet pack features "an emergency flotation system" that has "100 per cent buoyancy". Reassuring...
At Goodwood JPA will exhibit the JB11 at the Festival of Speed Future Lab, where CEO David Mayman will be doing demos, as well as actually attempting the hill run. Plans for the future include extended flying time, a jet pack that can be sat in or knelt on and an EV jet pack. For now Mayman says talks are taking place for police, medical and first responder use.
Will it work? Would you dare to try it? This is probably a discussion that will run for while, but do share your photos and videos if you see the JB11 in action, as we're rather intrigued...
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