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Wednesday March 10, 2010
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 Near the top of the list of "unfulfilled science fiction concepts," you'll find the jetpack, a staple of future transportation that somehow hasn't arrived yet. (Well, we did get the Segway.)
Nonetheless, Martin Aircraft Company wants to change that with the Martin Jetpack, a $90,000 carbon fiber model that can generate 600 pounds of thrust. Wired reports that the jetpack is self-righting; you can let go of the controls and just hover.
The Martin Jetpack runs on gasoline, and burns through its five-gallon tank in about half an hour. It's classified as an ultralight aircraft, so you don't need a pilot's license, although the company enforces its own training program.
Anyone who wants one faces a 12-month wait; to get on the list, you'll need to put 10 percent down ($9,000).
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March 10, 2010 10:47 AM
oh nice!
I was considering getting a jet pack but the ones that I know of only fly for 1-10 minutes at a time and are much unsafer than this one. Yet somehow those cost almost double. Hmmm?
So I hated how unsafe they were and found the water jetpack, flies only over water and is much safer yet very fun! jetlev-flyer.com
But now this one is here. Hmm might just start with the water one, and then get this one!
March 11, 2010 2:31 AM
I will be eagerly waiting for this one to come.
March 11, 2010 5:03 PM
Hmmm... Flies for 1/2 an hour on a 5 gallon tank.
Driving 60mph for half an hour will take you 30 miles, which is around 1 gallon for 30 miles. This uses 5 times as much fuel, but you may be able to go farther.
Of course, when the jetpack fuel runs out, you had better be close to the ground because there is no coasting.
J
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/mandsogdon
March 11, 2010 5:04 PM
i think i'll wait a year or two for the price to come down... :D
March 11, 2010 5:15 PM
Hopefully it can move horizontally while maintaining altitude. If it does, we don't know how fast it can move horizontally.
March 11, 2010 7:36 PM
Still it's very expensive. I will wait till price drops to 15K EUR before I get one:):)
March 12, 2010 5:41 AM
Time to get my sword and live out my Rocketknight fantasies.
March 31, 2010 2:23 AM
I think that's more than reasonable for a frickin jetpacks.