The Future Now: Jetpacks to Go on Sale Late This Year

FOXNEWS ^ | 03/13/10 | Jeremy A. Kaplan

[Doogle]

UPDATE:Flying cars and robot maids may still be far from reality, but one Jetsons-era vision of the future is very real: the jetpack.

After nearly 30 years in development, New Zealand's Martin Aircraft Company is finally gearing up to sell its jetpack: two rockets driven by a 2-liter, 200-horsepower engine that can theoretically take you as high as 8,000 feet.

The company is currently taking commercial orders, but Martin expects it will be selling the devices to individuals late this year.

With a range of 31 miles and a maximum speed of 63 miles per hour, you'll be able to jaunt to the store at will, or to the gas station for a fill-up. That's right, Martin's jetpack uses ordinary gasoline, not jet or rocket fuel.

The future is now, though it'll cost you around $100,000. So why buy a jetpack rather than, say, a midsize sailboat or a high-performance motorcycle?

[bobby.223]

ha! you might have to explain that one to the young’ns tho J4.!!!

[ApplegateRanch]

Just waiting for the “hold mah beer guy” to strap one on, then get on his bicycle....or maybe a pair of skis

[Hot Tabasco]

you'll be able to jaunt to the store at will

I can just picture all the bodies dangling from telephone wires or hanging out of broken office building windows........

[Political Junkie Too]

...there may be a reason why all of the "pilots" but one shown in the video were slender women and the one man (at the end) looked skinny as Hell...

Are you thinking that after a few trips to Burger King for a double whopper with cheese, this thing won't have enough thrust to lift you again?

-PJ

[Hot Tabasco]

but a lot of people will die on these things too.

Which Wright brother you talking to, Wilbur or Orville?

[Slings and Arrows]

Darwin’s keeping a close eye on this one.

[StrictTime]

"Come on!!"

[valkyry1]

Well just for starters the Wright Flyer had wings and a glide ratio, in fact it was based on their glider designs. The Wright Flyer sustained level flight with only a 12 horsepower engine.

With this jet pack if there is any problem at all in the engine/propulsion system you are going to drop like a guy with no parachute on until you hit the ground (with no airframe structure to protect and absorb some of the crash forces)

People such as yourself who make such comparisons only reveal you know not of what you are talking about, or such obvious concepts would not be lost on you guys. Its rather lames actually, and there is always an abundance of such comments here on the FR.

[Doogle]

thinning the gene pool

[dvwjr]

Originally posted by: william clark

"Still no images from Lost in Space or Jonny Quest?"

Well, now that you mentioned it...

Jonny Quest: Rocket Belts

Of course, I always thought that the 'Flying Platforms' looked like a better deal for the daily commute...

Jonny Quest: Flying Platforms

Ah, the dreams of youth...

dvwjr

[Hot Tabasco]

such obvious concepts would not be lost on you guys. Its rather lames actually,

Thank you Dr. Knowitall, I'll refrain from any further comments, either serious or with humor, until I check with you to make sure such statements meet with your scientific approval..........After all, you're obviously Da Man!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Not me. I don’t even like standing on tip-toe.

[valkyry1]

//comments, either serious or with humor//

Is hard to tell around here sometimes!

Have a good evening.