Jet pack

March 8, 2010 6:20 PM

"If it's the 21st Century, where's my jetpack?" Here you go. Flight time of 30 minutes, runs on premium gasoline. Cheap, at just $86,000!
posted by Chocolate Pickle (34 comments total)

huh?
posted by gman at 6:22 PM on March 8, 2010

This looked shopped. I can tell from some of the pixels.
and from seeing quite a few 'shops in my time
posted by jquinby at 6:36 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

The jetpack we were promised but never got comes out every 12-18 months. I'd really love a Build Your Own 50s-Era PopSci Cover tool so I could make one that says "In The Year 2000, You Will Get So Tired Of Jetpack Jokes"
posted by DU at 6:39 PM on March 8, 2010

It will revolutionize commutes and city planning, just like the Segway did before it!
posted by Babblesort at 6:44 PM on March 8, 2010

gman: This time for real!!!
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:45 PM on March 8, 2010

Whatever, call me when I can get a skintight technological "battle-suit" composed of steel mesh, which could serve as an exoskeleton, allow me to fly, fire energy blasts, has a personal force field for defense and has a pouch for keeping Pop Tarts warm.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:48 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's driven by a 2.0 L V4 2 stroke engine rated at 200 hp (150 kw)

Jet Pack? Since when does a jet have a two stroke engine?
posted by eriko at 6:48 PM on March 8, 2010

It's driven by a 2.0 L V4 2 stroke engine rated at 200 hp (150 kw)

I'm assuming that would be LOUD. Hope they've got room for a muffler on those things, or keep them the f*** out of my friendly neighborhood skies lest their be unfortunate "hunting accidents".
posted by philip-random at 7:03 PM on March 8, 2010

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posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:17 PM on March 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

The Fall Guy did this back in the 80s but nobody cares.
posted by nola at 7:24 PM on March 8, 2010

It's the 80's, Where's Our Rocket Packs?

Been listening to that song for 25 years now, still waiting.
posted by Lokheed at 7:45 PM on March 8, 2010

This is technically a ducted fan pack.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 7:53 PM on March 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

Agree that's 'shopped.

Max altitude: about three feet because a failure of that two stroke drops you out of the sky like a sack of potatoes.
posted by marvin at 8:03 PM on March 8, 2010

I'm assuming that would be LOUD.

But imagine how fun it will be to blow that last leaf down the driveway.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:04 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Max altitude: about three feet because a failure of that two stroke drops you out of the sky like a sack of potatoes.

If humanity consisted solely of those who fretted about being dropped out of this or that like a sack of something or other, we wouldn't be the monster badass motherfucker species we are.
posted by planet at 8:08 PM on March 8, 2010 [12 favorites]

One very cool thing mentioned in the article is the FAA's "Highways in the Sky" program; 3D highways based on GPS tracks, complete with an FAA video! It's cool technology that makes flying both safer, less costly, and better for the environment.

They suggest that it could make it possible to fly your jetpack to work within a decade or so, if there was sufficient demand for it...
posted by markkraft at 8:15 PM on March 8, 2010

When I think jetpack, I think of something like this
posted by hellojed at 8:40 PM on March 8, 2010

Okay, so I need one of these to accomplish my villainy, but I need to be villainous in order to afford one.

Damn vicious cycles in the downturn economy.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:48 PM on March 8, 2010

Does Richard Branson have one? Because that guy ruins everything fun for me....
posted by lumpenprole at 8:53 PM on March 8, 2010

Personal video chat? ...check.
Black President? ...check.
Jetpack? ...check.

OK. It's the future now. Carry on.
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:09 PM on March 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

This ain't no jet pack. A jet pack, by any definition that matters (i.e. comic books), is something that a non-weightlifter or nonsuperhuman could wear without external support and still be able to stand up straight. This thing weighs 250 pounds. Plus, "The pilot must also weigh between 140-240 lbs" (and what eye color?), and has to undergo a special piloting course, plus you can't fly it to work. Face it, we're making better progress on the robot butler.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:12 PM on March 8, 2010

Yeah. It also suffers from the fact that it's not even using jets. It's a fan pack.
posted by delmoi at 10:31 PM on March 8, 2010

(Wearing a fanny pack doesn't sound so cool, in retrospect.)
posted by markkraft at 10:35 PM on March 8, 2010

That seems like an awfully expensive way to kill myself.
posted by nanojath at 10:48 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I still favor the fans here to the effects of massive fuel combustion firing down my legs.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:24 PM on March 8, 2010

Okay, it's not really a jet pack, but a VTOL ultralight with a half hour range still seems kind of cool.
posted by XMLicious at 11:38 PM on March 8, 2010

Dear Martin Aircraft,
Please give one of your jetpacks to Brian Blessed with the explicit instructions that he fly around the UK shouting "DIIIVE!".
posted by malevolent at 12:31 AM on March 9, 2010

I wonder how efficient it is. I mean, does it get 5 MPG or 50?

Also, I enjoy the idea of a two-stroke seizing mid-air.
posted by maxwelton at 12:45 AM on March 9, 2010

...[I] don't have a pouch for keeping Pop Tarts warm.

What? You're going commando?
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:57 AM on March 9, 2010

Fly in ointment: ...patented fan jet technology and 100 hours engine TBO (Time Between Overhaul). So I could use it to commute to work and back for three months before it required an overhaul?

I'm assuming that would be LOUD. Hope they've got room for a muffler on those things...

Expansion chambers, one would hope.


...because a failure of that two stroke drops you out of the sky like a sack of potatoes.

If their 2-stroke engine is that unreliable, they haven't yet caught up to 1970s engine design.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:07 AM on March 9, 2010

Jet pack not. Jet pack yes — with stewardess.

The future ain't what it used to be.
posted by cenoxo at 4:33 AM on March 9, 2010

Flying platforms are cooler than this, and 1950s tech to boot. If only someone would try this with modern tech and noise reduction.
posted by PsychoKick at 8:12 AM on March 9, 2010

Ducted-fan packs are cool and all, but I'm holding out for personal helicopters!

Mine is going to be (predicatively) called "Death from Above"
posted by quin at 8:31 AM on March 9, 2010

quin: Two words accurately respond to this: Hiller failed.

Kirth Gerson: 100 TBO is standard FAA reqs for maintenance on light aircraft.

markkraft: Victor airways are awesome. They're basically a high-traffic VFR conduit, with navigational intersections that TRACON knows.

My problem is that, like with everything aviation related, this monstrosity would be loud, cold and expensive to maintain. For this price, I'd rather just stick with the RV-7A.
posted by electronslave at 10:26 AM on March 9, 2010