Martin Jetpack priced at $86,000, mere mortals will soon be able to buy one too
By Vlad Savov 
posted March 10th 2010 4:24AM
posted March 10th 2010 4:24AM
posted March 10th 2010 4:24AM
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Not buying it until two things happened.
First, they'll make'm fully electric, preferably by Tesla.
Second, I had to see Al Gore as one of the first adopters of this environment friendly vehicles, actually flying that thing.
With this I can save the cat from in the tree.
$86k seems like a bargain. An actual airplane costs way more. For much less you can get a hot air balloon or ultralight plane but this has way more capability as far as being used as transportation.
As far as people talking about being hurt. WTF you can buy a motorcycle or car and ram it into a wall at 100mph right now. You can buy any number of hanglider, parasail, balloon ships and go flying in the air right now without a license. Ability to hurt yourself should not be a caveat to a machine.
@vectortbss : Helicopters, too, cost some serious money. This does look very clever and cool and cost-effective (dare I suggest somewhat affordable?). Hopefully, they really did make it reasonably safe.
@vectortbss You don't see normal people owning either. Both are for the ultra rich. I will be happy when your average person can afford one. Not likely to happen when right now the cheapest new car on the market is more then most people make in a year, let alone any type of flying machine being affordable.
Hey Engadget, they sending you a review unit?
Build an idiot-proof jetpack, and the world will build a bigger idiot.
I wonder what insurance will cost.
@gadgetfann
I believe that conversation will go something like this.
"Hello"
"Hello, I would like to buy insurance for my Jet Pack".
"Hahahahahahahahahahah" .
Now I just need some mandolorian armor!
(I can't believe no one else has made a star wars reference, what kind of geek website anyway?
@iCello That's because 'Star Wars' is main stream. If your really a geek you make Star Trek or Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy quotes. ;-)
@SkonOfVulcan Oh, and in the case of Star Trek you can't just quote from one of the TV shows, movies or novels. You have to quote from a misprint in a "technical manual"!
@vectorbss
86k seems like a bargain to me too.
@doyoucompute Who has 10 years income to spend on something like this?
Given Moore's Law I can expect this to become affordable and portable in about 10 years then? I can wait another ten years.
If I got it, I would put one of those Beer helmets that allows me to drink out of two cans hands free.... while flying.... THAT would be sweet! ..... WHAT!!??!! the cops can't catch me.
Looks like the jetpack from Final Fantasy Vlll. Can't wait for Gardens.
If you got a free cape, I'd put it on my Christmas list.
@elwood No capes!! Capes and propellers don't mix! Did you not see The Incredibles??
Good article here about flying platforms & jeeps:
http://www.vectorsite.net/avplatfm.html
So you get a car or a jetpack.
@Spiky haired boy You mean more like 5 cars or the jet pack.
Could be a lot more practical than people think. Need to know some info though ...
1. What is the range? It was posted as 30 minutes. No mention of speed though.
2. What does it cost to fuel?
3. How do you transport it while on the ground? Doesn't look like it can be lifted by a person.
@bjsguess Exactly my questions. If it can't get me to work and back home in less time and for less fuel than my car, then it's a waste.
Perhaps an electric version I can charge at work and home would solve that.
I did some research on their site and for those wondering if you can fly it to work, functions, and what not....the answer is: not for at least 10 years. Here's what i grabbed off the FAQs on the site asking that very same question.
"The US FAA is currently developing a “highways in the sky” technology; basically 3D highways based on automated GPS tracks. Initial tests have been positive but the full system is not likely to be implemented for at least 10 years."
@HighSpeedChase
They mentioned the use for the jetpack more for recreation ala ATV, jetski, snowmobile, etc.. at least until the FAA approves that "highways in the sky" thing.
to add to that, the timeframe from deposit to delivery of your very own jetpack is approx. 12 months.
Presumably this thing will have a ballastic parachute, but until you reach minimum altitude for deployment you're in a world of danger.
Hmm, is there now a Scottish band considering a name change?
I've been waiting for one since I saw Thunderball.
This would be awesome....if America didn't have such idiotic lawsuits and insurance.
I like how so many people here say that they want this. Really? I don't. If I wanted that kind of a thrill, I have had the opportunity to go sky-diving available to me at a very reasonable price, and somehow I have managed to decide not to take that particular risk. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if you have never jumped out of a plane, you are not likely to strap a jet pack to your back. No matter how much you say that you want to. Now, a virtual jet pack...
@glennS
I want one. Not for me, for my cats.
@zangetsu2
OK. In that case, don't forget the head mounted lasers.
On the one hand, it sure beats Southwest. On the other...people can't drive worth squat in TWO dimensions, and we expect them to deal with three?
I'll get one when it's actually the size of a backpack that i can stowaway in my closet, instead of my shed or garage
"mere mortals will soon be able to buy one too"
yeah, and they will confirm their mortality as well.
godly
Sweet, at least I'll be saving on getting it personalized. Fuck yeah.
Its cool but a small helicopter would be much better and not that much more expensive.