Video: Martin Jetpack flies again, but you still can't buy one
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted May 8th 2009 1:01PM
posted May 8th 2009 1:01PM
You know, for a device as potentially bad ass as the Martin Jetpack is -- the company boasts a maximum range of 31.5 miles at 63 mph, and the ability to hover at 8,000 feet above ground effect -- the video we've seen thus far has been pretty lackluster. Of course, you can't actually get your hands on one anyways (check back in January 2010), but that isn't stopping the company from accepting your $10,000 deposit for the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Despite all that, we couldn't help but feel all a-flutter when we watched the newest clip and realized that someday soon our dreams of super heroism might be fulfilled -- and with a rocket strapped to our back, no less. Check it out for yourself after the break.
[Via Oh Gizmo!]
[Via Oh Gizmo!]
The size of that thing, he might as well strap himself to a Cessna
He, kind of basically is.
Essentially what I was thinking...They might as well put a seat on it if it's going to be that big. It's not like he's supporting anything with his back. He's just "attached" to it there.
If the machine twice the size and weight of the person operating it, can it still be call a "pack?"
You're ignoring the possibility that the pack might weigh 100 times lighter than it looks.
Yeah, only a Cessna is nice enough to give you a fricking seat to sit in, instead of picking you up by the crotch.
That's true, but Cessna's need a runway. These take off, land, and hover vertically.
I've been seeing and reading about these things for decades. Why do they all still suck?
...physics
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMYFW4ExPeo
and (kind of lame) this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3JIrJMrrY
its very difficult to find a good balance between size and flight-time
hopefully they will make a successful one in the next 50 years. I WANT TO FLY LIKE A BIRD!! too afraid to try the wingsuit.
Looks a little like a Strogg Icarus.
Just let me get tone and hope he doesn't have decoys.
Roc... ket... man...
Mr. Tambourine Man...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9TICB3aKoA
And i think its gonna be a long long time....
I'll just make one myself...
http://www.instructables.com/
And if not I'll borrow the $1,000,000 to buy one, then rob a bank or casino with it and then pay for it.. along with some snacks money..
AHAHAHHA!!!
SNACKS ON SNACKS
That is simply the coolest thing ever created.
I'll buy one when it's smaller. Like the ones in GTA SA :D
I hate to shatter your rocket powered fantasies but this is not rocket powered, it is a V4 radial engine driving a pair of ducted fans. Martin Aerospace has the technical details here http://martinjetpack.com/technical-information.aspx
Yes, decidedly not a rocket- or jet-pack. As impressive as it is, it's desperately waiting to make its first crater. The ballistic parachute system that I looked up on the web (part of the Sting aircraft) has a 400 foot minimum deployment height.
They just seem a bit futile, i'm sure their only possibly use would be military related. seems a bit daft, cool, but daft
General asks: Who wants a jet pack? The one guy that didn't think it through would say yes.
The rest would hear it as: Who wants to be a floating target?
Give it some time though, I can't wait to see smaller versions in action.
I wonder if it has a built in parachute for when something goes wrong.
Having your car break down is inconvenient....having your jetpack break down at 8,000 feet can really screw up your morning though.
I would imagine they would have a built-in emergency parachute much like hang-gliders do. Of course, those chutes don't do much good below 200 feet or so.
Imagine having your pack fail at 8000 feet, only to have your emergency chute deploy and land you softly right in the middle of the interstate where you get smacked by a semi...
Turns out it has one.
"What happens if the engine stops?
The Martin Jetpack is equipped with a 'Ballistic Parachute'. If something untoward happens the pilot pulls a toggle and a small propellant (similar to one used in a car airbag) is fired rapidly deploying a parachute. The pilot, Jetpack and parachute descend as one. The use of 'ballistic parachutes' is now quite common in general aviation. For example, they are standard equipment on the Cirrus series of single engine aircraft. "
http://www.martinjetpack.com/faqs.aspx
They haven't crashed yet, so statistically it's still the safest way to travel.
Great! Now show us how it works outside so we're not limited to jetpacking in the 10'x20' garage of our homes.
In the future, school kids will laugh at this photo in their history books and then blast off to recess in their iron man suits.
Wait for fusion, before you make a prognosis like this. The way things are going, our children are going to be sucking thumbs into their 80's while cursing us for being the douches that we are.
Not fusion, arc reactors.
They can even be built in caves.
I'm just relieved to see that he's wearing a helmet, I mean, I wouldn't want my head squished with the rest of my body when that things falls out of the sky.
If that thing falls out of the sky, the helmet is going to be wearing him for protection...
You guys should get an Iphone, they have an app for this.
Engadget's recession antidote coming very soon.... Pray People... for it..
Check out the little LCD I wonder what it displays? Gas, rpm etc... thats VERY COOL.
Ya that look like as much fun as riding a bike without a seat.
Are you saying girls will enjoy it more?
just had visions of successful business men flying to work, and parking their jetpacks in much smaller parking stalls than those we have today.
huh.
yeah. right next to their office... on the 42nd floor of their office building.
No thanks - I'd probably get shot down on the flight into downtown Philly.
If these catch on, it's going to be LOUD outside.
It's already loud outside... and bright... and....... pollen-y.
/me runs to hide in basement.
Although this and various other personal flying devices have never made too much sense to me ( sort of like the Segway ). I have to hand it to these guys they have managed to do something 99% of their competition failed to do and that's controlled untethered flight .... Now if it can actually fly out of ground effect or how it would deal with engine out scenarios (other then dropping like a brick and killing the pilot) since it cant Autorotate or effectively use a Ballistic parachute system at lower altitudes.
good point about ground-effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_in_aircraft#Wing_in_ground_effect_with_helicopters
I wonder if this thing produces enough lift to go above that. I somewhat doubt it.
8000ft, ha, no thanks. Unless there was a chute. cuz 31.5 miles ain't that far. Hopefully thats the conservative number. Or else your could only count on 20.
"90 seconds fly-time, 30 minutes charge-time"
And here I thought motorcycles were dangerous...