Sure, we all love jet packs. Who doesn't enjoy strapping a gigantic tube of highly flammable fuel to their back and igniting it so it can propel you hundreds of feet into the air? Well, an inventor named Raymond Li has a different idea, one which he's just managed to patent: a water-propelled rocket pack. The new design would use a system of conduits which route pressure to independently pivoting thrust nozzles, while the actual engine, pump, and dangerous gases remain floating on water in a self-contained, buoyant package. It's somewhat unclear if you'll be able to rocket over land using this device (the fact that the engine is water-based would suggest no), though it is an interesting development for jet-pack enthusiasts.

[Via Wired]

No matter how played flying cars, kayaks, and other strange contraptions are, the allure of a jet pack strapped onto your back just doesn't seem to lose its luster. Rick Herron, creator of Skywalker Jets, has devised a rocket pack that weighs about 90 pounds and can propel a 200 pound pilot around the air for what is likely the most invigorating 5 minutes of their life. The crazy part is this thing actually works, and it doesn't get your backside all crispy in the process. Rick plans on producing a finalized model that has a range of about 4 miles and includes a GPS unit integrated into a HUD showing flight time and engine information among other things. A prototype build solicited a bid over 10 grand from a hopeful buyer (or helpless Star Wars fan), and this project hopefully won't end here -- Rick plans to get the device approved by the FAA and available to anxious customers as soon as possible, and the good news is that becoming a rocketeer will only cost you a cool $200,000 if it goes into production.

[Via Mobilewhack]