5 real life jetpacks that will bring the rocket closer to reality

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Being able to fly independently is a dream for many people, which is why superheroes like Superman are so popular. Science fiction has been teasing the world with jetpacks for almost a century, from the pages of newspapers to the “Buck Rogers” comics. There were few science fiction anthologies and magazines that didn’t contain images of people zipping through the sky with rockets strapped to their backs.

Jetpacks have also appeared in films, including 1991’s “The Rocketeer,” which detailed the Nazis’ plan to defeat their enemies in the run-up to World War II. While this type of jetpack remains fiction, We’re getting closer to having working jetpacks. It’s true that you won’t be flying with a seemingly endless supply of fuel, and there are some limits. Despite everything, Jetpack technology is just starting to gain attention in the 21st century, but it shows promise.

The sad truth about modern jetpacks revolves around the cost of owning and operating them. They are ridiculously expensive, but that doesn’t make them any less attractive. Who wouldn’t want to strap on a personal flying device and take to the skies? It’s a lifelong dream for many people, and thanks to impressive engineering, it’s no longer a fantasy. These five jetpacks are examples of what exists, and for those who have the means to fly them, movies like “Rocket” are one step closer to reality.

Jetman Dubai Jetwing

There are many different types of jetpacks, although one of the first successful designs came from Swiss pilot and aviation enthusiast Yves Rossy. Due to his invention, the media called him “Jetman”: a wingsuit consisting of semi-rigid wings extending almost eight feet. The system is powered by four Jetcat P400 engines, which gives it incredible power. Rossi founded Jetman Dubai to continue to refine its technology, which has been actively developed since the mid-2000s.

The Jetman Dubai jetwing can fly a maximum distance of 51 miles at a maximum speed of 400 km/h. The Jetman Dubai website lists a minimum hover speed, a highest altitude of 20,000 feet and a total flight time of 13 minutes. This puts the Jetman Dubai Jetwing as one of the most advanced jetpacks on the market, but achieving this level of sophistication was not easy. In November 2020, Jetman pilot Vincent Reffet died while attempting to hover at an altitude of 250 meters after losing control and being unable to release the pyrorocket’s attached emergency parachute.

Although the accident was tragic, it is a rare example of technology failing due to pilot inaction. Still, don’t be fooled by videos of people flying these devices – they require extensive training to operate and are not yet available for public use. Jetman Dubai Jetwing is the equivalent of strapping a jet plane to your back and going for a ride. This is a fantastic example of emerging technology, but it is also an example of one of the most difficult jetpacks to fly and master.

Jet Suit by Gravity Industries

Almost every depiction of a jetpack in science fiction consists of a jetpack, but the folks at Gravity Industries changed this concept design to create one more like Iron Man. The Daedalus Flight Pack was invented by Richard Browning, although the name has been changed. The flying package prototype was created in 2016 and has since undergone several improvements. It is incredibly powerful, with military, commercial and industrial capabilities.

Browning founded Gravity Industries for his commercially available jet suit. The system is powered by five micro gas turbine engines – four on the control arms and one at the rear. By some estimates, they produce a total of 10,508 horsepower, allowing the user to fly for ten minutes at 80 miles per hour and at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Despite these capabilities, the design is intended to fly much lower, just 10 to 13 feet above the ground at a speed of 55 miles per hour.

Gravity Industries hopes its jet suit will be used in a variety of applications, including search and rescue, military reconnaissance and personal entertainment. These jet suits can be custom-made for around $500,000 or anyone can fly them, with package prices starting at $3,500. You will need to travel to Chichester, about an hour from London, England, where you will receive basic training and will be able to fly. Operating them requires significant physical arm strength, so there are some limitations, although people can physically prepare to operate them.

Jetpack Aviation personal jetpack

Inventor David Mayman became interested in jetpacks in the mid-1980s, founding Jetpack Aviation in California to pursue his dream of taking to the skies. Mayman’s design focused on vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)perfectly fitting the public’s expectations of sci-fi jetpacks. The company achieved this goal with its first jetpack, the JB-9. The company unveiled the design in November 2015 during a publicity flight around the Statue of Liberty. Since then, the jetpack has improved significantly with subsequent models.

Since then, Jetpack Aviation has released three models: the JB-10, JB-11 and JB-12. Each subsequent project is an improvement of the capabilities of the previous one. The company has already sold two JB-12s to the army of an unnamed Southeast Asian country. The total cost for both units was $800,000 can be used in emergency medical services in places where a helicopter would not be practical. Jetpack Aviation has also contracted to train pilots to operate the JB-12, so the company is fully committed.

While Jetpack Aviation doesn’t provide specifications for its latest design, it does detail the JB-11’s stats. The JB-11 has an empty weight of 115 pounds, a top speed of over 200 mph, an endurance of 10 minutes, and an operating ceiling of 5,000 feet. Additionally, the JB-11 uses Jet A-1, JP8, kerosene or diesel fuel as fuel. Additionally, the JB-11 is equipped with six turbojet engines, four more than its predecessor. The latest models also have automatic stabilization software, which makes it easier to learn how to use.

Martin Jetpack

Glenn Martin started working on the jetpack in the 1980s and spent decades making the technology work. Unlike other jetpacks, the Martin Jetpack is not what you might expect as it did not feature any jets in its design. Instead, it consisted of two large ducted fans that provided lift. This posed a serious problem as the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) classified the Martin Jetpack as an “experimental ultralight aircraft”. This meant it could not be flown in populated areas.

The Martin Jetpack had a ceiling of 3,000 feet, a range of 30 minutes and could fly at speeds of up to 70 km/h using 12 gallons of fuel. These statistics set it apart from other jetpacks due to the different technology that provides height and thrust. Two duct fans were powered by a 200 HP engine, and the fuel was standard gasoline mixed with oil for two-stroke engines.

This allowed someone to fly in a Martin Jetpack and stop to refuel at a standard gas station. The Martin Jetpack cost $150,000, depending on the device’s configuration, but was never made commercially available. The plan for Martin Aircraft was to reclassify the aircraft as a first-class microlight, but Martin left the company in 2015 and the company ceased operations in 2019. Still, the technology was proven and could be refined into something more.

Air Flyboard

One of the most unusual types of personal flying devices is the Flyboard Air, invented by Franky Zapata. The Flyboard Air isn’t something you strap to your back – it straps to your feet. If you think Back to the Future skateboards are impressive, the Flyboard Air is next level. Zapata’s company, Z-AIR, describes its device as “the smallest redundant manned aircraft ever built.” The operator steps into the device, which is attached to the feet, making it the world’s first true hoverboard.

The Flyboard Air can operate for ten minutes, reach a top speed of 300 km/h, climb to a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet, and carry a weight of up to 265 pounds. It is powered by five turbojet engines and equipped with an on-board stabilization system to ensure operator stability. The Flyboard Air can also operate VTOL and uses kerosene as fuel.

Z-AIR has provided the US Army with a Fly-EZ test platform, but the technology is not yet practical for military applications. Flyboard Air is still a developing technology, and flying it requires learning. Zapata himself swam into the English Channel while demonstrating his device in 2019. The second attempt was successful, but his initial failure showed problems with the hoverboard’s handling. If Zapata continues to refine the design and improve its capabilities, one day we will all be able to fly through the sky like Marty McFly, without a time machine, of course.