The ThunderPack jetpack promises to make you a ThunderMan... for 37 seconds

We've seen quite a few jetpacks come and go, but Thunderbolt Aerosystem's has managed to set its ThunderPack apart with marketing materials that promise to make you a "ThunderMan"... for 37 seconds and $100,000. Creator Carmelo "Nino" Amarena says his pack is an update of the hydrogen peroxide-powered packs of the 1950s, but that it's been updated to use two fuels and special catalysts and promoters -- which have led to bench test firing times of up to a whopping 75 seconds. We're not sure how that's going to be useful in military, disaster relief, or border patrol efforts like Amarena imagines, but we can sort of see how it might make a corporate event more interesting. Still, we just can't see giving up our feet, bikes, or cars for this or any other jetpack -- check out why in the video after the break.

[Juice @ Jan 24th 2008 1:39PM]

That looks like an accident waiting to happen. How does it keep itself "righted" and not go loop de loop?

[andrew @ Jan 24th 2008 1:47PM]

If you become a 4 hour man, contact your doctor

[NHAnimator @ Jan 24th 2008 1:47PM]

Blooper reel! I want a blooper reel!

[FrankTheCrank @ Jan 24th 2008 2:04PM]

GO PATS!!!

[Seoultrain @ Jan 24th 2008 1:51PM]

"In Memory of Wendell F. Moore"

Was he the first test pilot?

[Jongscx @ Jan 24th 2008 1:51PM]

Pls... Furries need not apply... I'd really rather not hear "HO!" everytime something lifts off.

[please tell me somebody gets the reference]

[Aditya @ Jan 24th 2008 1:56PM]

Reminds me of Wile E Coyote and his ACME collector's items...

[holycow @ Jan 24th 2008 2:00PM]

I miss seeing Veronica Belmont in the videos now :(

[macona @ Jan 24th 2008 2:07PM]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I needed something to laugh at too...

[FrankTheCrank @ Jan 24th 2008 2:04PM]

37 seconds....HA!!!

I'd rather smoke a joint. It last longer.

[Taylor @ Jan 24th 2008 2:04PM]

Funny, I've also been described as a 37 second thunder man...
-Taylor

[Alaskan302 @ Jan 24th 2008 2:06PM]

Lame... Jet Pack International is promising one with a 11 to 20 MIN flight time for $200,000

[Ivand @ Jan 24th 2008 2:10PM]

this has arrested development written all over it

[Will @ Jan 24th 2008 2:22PM]

"I'd rather have the Welch."
Mr. F is indeed my favorite episode of AD.

[JPN @ Jan 24th 2008 2:29PM]

Alert the Japanese businessmen!

[Andy S. @ Jan 24th 2008 2:48PM]

Camera 1 was run by Rob Schneider? Talk about your career tanking...

[Bucky @ Jan 24th 2008 3:35PM]

So, the credits lasted longer than the flight. Anyone else get the anti-climactic vibe here?

[mrpoo @ Jan 24th 2008 3:36PM]

I don't quite get how this can be used for rescue operations? You swoop in, scratch the victim's corneas to hell with all the crap your ass-pack blows around, then you land, throwing out your back in the process when the combined weight of you and your 100 pound ass-pack hits the dirt. Then, on the really off chance that the victim is glad to see you, you remember that there is no way in hell your ass-pack is going to lift two people even an inch off the ground, much less actually getting you both out of harm's way. You then proceed to apologize, and promise to send some actually useful help back soon. After takeoff, cursing yourself for dropping 100 large on this screaming turd, you realize about 7 seconds too late that it took you 30 seconds to get to the victim, just as your ass-pack sputters out and you fall into the fire/flood/crevice/jaws or whatever disaster just happened.

Also, Apple already patented this idea.

[Gerard @ Jan 27th 2008 12:03AM]

I know about 2000 people who would have gladly strapped one of these on their backs and flown down from the top of two tall N.Y. buildings or maybe over to some other buildings rooftop on 9/11 ! If you were stranded in the middle of a flooded river with the tide rising you would gladly kiss the ass of the guy who had the guts to fly a life-ring and rope out to you. So don,t downplay the capabilities of such a device,it has its purpose,but narrow minded people with no vision can't see it.

[mrpoo @ Jan 25th 2008 12:13PM]

If by "narrow minded" you mean "practical," or perhaps "not nuts," then yes, I admit to being narrow minded. I wonder who would have footed the 200 MILLION dollar bill for 2,000 jetpacks in the WTC, not to mention where they would have stored them and how many secretaries and stockbrokers would have actually signed up for training to complete the 1,300 foot descent with one of these crazy contraptions. A little (simple) math will remind you that to manage the 1,300 foot drop from the roof in 37 seconds before your crazy-pack gives up the ghost, you need to average around 24 miles per hour descent rate. That's about the same speed you would hit the ground at if you just jumped off a 2 story building and dropped like a stone. Ouch. That best case scenario, which would result in broken legs and backs for everyone who is "successful" assumes no secretaries and janitors slam into the building on the way down because they can't control the thing, and they don't get spooked by the speed and descend too slowly and run out of gas. In short, this thing would be ludicrous, impractical, and ultimately irresponsible. You can buy a reliable four seat helicopter for less than $400,000 now, so per-person cost is cheaper than the dumb-pack, and it flies faster, farther, for longer time, and is more reliable and easy to control. A helicopter could also deliver your life-ring and rope, and would not require a martyr as a pilot, since the helicopter pilot knows he can make it back to shore whereas the 37-second Thunderman knows he is going to be navigating the flood waters with you after he dumps his now worthless empty tank ass-pack into the drink. Call me narrow-minded, but I'll take a number and wait for the chopper.

Oh, and lest we forget, Apple patented the World Trade Center 5 years before it was built.

[Scott Culp @ Jan 24th 2008 3:47PM]

I like the pic. It's a good warning that the thing could vapourize your legs. Hehe

[OneLove @ Jan 24th 2008 3:48PM]

I point, therefore i am cool.

[Hoag @ Jan 24th 2008 3:54PM]

I like the song at the end.
I, too, want to be a spaceman.

[sean @ Jan 24th 2008 3:56PM]

(minimize pack mass x maximize flight time) + (mass production X premium price) = Rich people death rate increase

[Jerry Norbury @ Jan 24th 2008 6:20PM]

$100,000? Tesla it is then...

[Ed @ Jan 25th 2008 2:30AM]

Until its George Jetson Certified, my wallet stays shut.

[John Stracke @ Jan 25th 2008 7:56AM]

I suppose it could be useful in battle, if you need to evacuate a wounded soldier. The exhaust plume could actually be a benefit then, since it would make it hard to target you.

Really, though, "useful" is not the point here. It's a $100,000 entertainment device. Maybe somebody will try renting them out, though--except it's so dangerous, the waiver would outweigh the pilot.

[airwalker53 @ Jan 27th 2008 12:41AM]

Why would anyone with half a brain attempt or even consider flying down to the sidewalk from a 1300 ft. high rooftop? That's just plain stupid! The smart thing to do(what I would do)would be to fly to a nearby rooftop. Some buildings were only 150 feet away! With a lightweight cable in tow, a heavier zip line could have been pulled across and securely tied off to let others zip across. Those Zip-lines are routinely used by climbers to traverse gorges. Saying you would need 2000 jetpacks is ridicules. Having an evacuation plan and equipment like that on hand in tall buildings is what should be required nowadays.