Earlier this year I read and enjoyed the book, Where's my jetpack : a guide to the amazing science fiction future that never arrived, by Daniel H Wilson.
In that book, Wilson says that many inventors have tried to create a jetpack, a machine that will give individuals the means to fly, but so far no one has managed to lift anyone truly off the ground. Wilson saw the jetpack idea as one that needed to be left with the science fiction writers.
However, that's never stopped people trying, and at the end of July 2008, Glenn Martin, a 48-year-old inventor from Dunedin, New Zealand, strapped his 16-year-old son, Harrison, into the "world"s first practical jetpack,' and watched him fly. The demonstration, held in front of thousands of flight enthusiasts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was unfortunately restricted by American aviation officials, who insisted on Harrison flying only a metre (3 ¼ ft) or so above the ground.
However, when used "normally", the jetpack will enable the person flying to lift off vertically and then, with a slight forward pitching of the body, move horizontally at nearly 100 kmh (about 60 mph).
Up until now the only other jetpack that actually flew (the Bell Rocketbelt)would give less than half a minute of flying time, and had a fuel tank so dangerous that NASA stopped using it.
At the demonstration, Harrison Martin was strapped into the 113kg (250 lbs) pack, wore a crash helmet with a face shield, and a fireproof suit. He revved the motor of the jetpack repeatedly to warm it up.
This successful model is the 11th in a line of prototypes, the earliest of them worked on while Martin was studying at the University of Otago. It's run by a 200-horsepower, water-cooled piston engine that drives facing fans on either side of the pilot downwards. There are flaps at the bottom of the fans which are used to direct air, and to steer.
Martin has already begun taking orders for his "personal flying machine" (they will be made by his Martin Aircraft Company Ltd for US$100,000 each), with deposits of $10,000 apiece.
With the ability to fly for around half an hour, the machine could be used not just by well-heeled commuters, but also by search and rescue operators, or firefighters. Martin also envisages people using it just for fun, just as jet skis and snowmobiles are used.
You won't need a pilot's license to fly a Martin Jetpack. It's classified as an ultralight aircraft by the FAA. However, buyers will be required to take 15 hours of flight training as a safety screening. Those who don't pass this training will have to give up their jetpack. Fortunately they'll get their money back.
Each jetpack is equipped with a ballistic parachute, and though it's more dangerous than most other current flying options, Glenn Martin hopes to sell between 10 and 20 devices by this time next year.
Glenn Martin has been working on his flying machine for nearly three decades. His wife, Vanessa, was his first "test-pilot" and she remembers leaving her 7-week-old baby son in the house, rushing outside, having the prototype strapped to her back, testing it and then running back inside to rescue her baby.
Glenn Martin was known as the smartest kid in his class, and a risk-taker. When still a teenager, he nearly burned down the family home after leaving a welding torch on while he went for a cup of coffee.
Photos courtesy of martinjetpack at flickr.com
