Author Topic: Commercial Jetpack in 2012  (Read 3414 times)

Jamie B

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Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« on: September 09, 2011, 03:15:45 PM »
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/first-commercial-jetpack-sell-100-000-dreams-flying-163844579.html

Quote
The Martin Jetpack is scheduled to go on sale in 2012, and the current price tag is set at a lofty $100,000. Amazingly, it's actually legal: It will meet the FAA's strict standards for ultralight aircraft flight. By design, the jetsetter along for the ride won't be able to exceed 63 miles per hour, with a flight time limited to 30 minutes.

Granted only a 30min flight time, but it would be more fun than a Chevy Volt! (Edited to add picture)

« Last Edit: September 09, 2011, 05:01:19 PM by Jamie B »
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41magsnub

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2011, 04:25:55 PM »
I have about a 7 mile commute.....  this could work!

makattak

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2011, 04:38:37 PM »
I have about a 7 mile commute.....  this could work!

Same here! I don't think I want to spend 100K to shave 7 minutes off the commute, though.
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AJ Dual

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2011, 04:58:13 PM »
There was that other company with a similar design that folded and re-orged, and I think went into UAV work instead. The Solotrek...

So how can two companies crack the nut of the "flying backpack" in a reasonably short time, but Moller never seems to get anywhere with his "car" that he's been plugging for what, 20 years now?  :laugh:

IIRC, they've got video of some crane-tethered hovering in 2003, but nothing I can find since.
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MechAg94

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2011, 05:09:28 PM »
Same here! I don't think I want to spend 100K to shave 7 minutes off the commute, though.
Yeah, and it only takes 64 AA batteries.  

Can you just use a long extension cord? 
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MillCreek

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2011, 05:13:23 PM »
Hmm, so it is actually a gasoline engine driving two ducted fans.  Not exactly what I think of when I hear the term 'jetpack'. 
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AJ Dual

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2011, 05:29:49 PM »
Hmm, so it is actually a gasoline engine driving two ducted fans.  Not exactly what I think of when I hear the term 'jetpack'. 

Unless some serious breakthroughs in physics come to pass, and equally serious breakthroughs in engineering happen that can implement those breakthroughs, you'll probably never see something the size of the well known Bell "flying belt" style jetpack that can fly a human being at something approaching "car ranges" at "car/motorcycle speeds"

The Bell-style jet-packs seen in movies, and stunts at sporting events etc. only have a flight time of like 30-60 seconds, and use nearly pure hydrogen peroxide, explosively catalyzed over a platinum mesh to produce the thrust. There's even more energetic compounds, but they're even more dangerous and unstable.

Any power source, be it chemical, electrical, nuclear that you could possibly conceive of that would carry a human into the air and move him a tens of miles per hour, for even say 50 or 100 miles, and packed into the same footprint of the Bell pack also would make a pretty decent bomb.

It's just too much energy in too small a space that's needed to do the work all via direct thrust. Helicopters and airplanes that instead use the energy to push off of the air with rotors, propellers, and wings are many, many times more efficient.

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MicroBalrog

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2011, 05:33:18 PM »
There was that other company with a similar design that folded and re-orged, and I think went into UAV work instead. The Solotrek...

So how can two companies crack the nut of the "flying backpack" in a reasonably short time, but Moller never seems to get anywhere with his "car" that he's been plugging for what, 20 years now?  :laugh:

IIRC, they've got video of some crane-tethered hovering in 2003, but nothing I can find since.

Terrafugia on the other hand...
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AJ Dual

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2011, 05:35:33 PM »
Terrafugia on the other hand...

Taking regular aircraft and making them accessible is probably the better way to go. I know NASA and the FAA have (in their own bureaucratic and fumbling way) been trying to come up with universal computerized systems for nearly-autonomous flight systems to enable such a mass of aircraft to operate.
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birdman

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2011, 06:57:20 PM »
Terrafugia on the other hand...

...is owned by a friend and former classmate of mine :)

Jamie B

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2011, 07:06:18 PM »
I seem to recall Mythbusters trying to build one, and giving up.
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RocketMan

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2011, 07:08:04 PM »
I can so see myself commuting to work in that.  It would shorten the trip by about a mile by cutting cross country.  And it would enhance my already techno-geek cool rep at work in a major way.
But at a $100k, it won't happen anytime soon.
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TommyGunn

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2011, 07:35:12 PM »
It's been  .... how long since Sean Connery used one of these in a James Bond film, and they are still trying to ..."perfect" them?  Oh wait, they were used in Lost in Space as well, so atleast we know they're "space age." [tinfoil] :laugh: [popcorn]
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freakazoid

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2011, 08:01:26 PM »
Sweet. I could just fly to the ship every morning. Excellent. =D
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RoadKingLarry

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #14 on: September 10, 2011, 01:11:24 AM »
Quote
it would be more fun than a Chevy Volt!

So would getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick.

As to the "jet pack", my 2 mile commute would be a breeze.
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CNYCacher

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #15 on: September 10, 2011, 02:47:29 AM »
Hope it comes with a ballistic parachute.  At least with a small plane you can glide in if your engine fails.  This thing will drop like a rock
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Jamie B

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #16 on: September 10, 2011, 06:02:04 AM »
Quote
This thing will drop like a rock
100mph post hole digger....
« Last Edit: September 10, 2011, 04:45:44 PM by Jamie B »
Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength - Henry Ward Beecher

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sanglant

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #17 on: September 10, 2011, 03:12:26 PM »
a root canal would be more fun than a Chevy Volt. [tinfoil]

grislyatoms

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #18 on: September 10, 2011, 03:19:39 PM »
Wonder how it performs at altitude? Thinner atmosphere, and all. ABQ is nearly a mile above sea level...
Still pretty cool.
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birdman

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #19 on: September 10, 2011, 03:57:23 PM »
Wonder how it performs at altitude? Thinner atmosphere, and all. ABQ is nearly a mile above sea level...
Still pretty cool.

I'm guessing, not very well.  I would imagine the 3500ft they took it up to is a pretty good limit.  High/hot conditions for this type of "on the edge of current engineering" direct lift device are going to be really tough.

Also, since the engine isn't turbocharged, it will have a dual-negative...less power available and more power required to produce a given amount of thrust.

birdman

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #20 on: September 10, 2011, 03:59:35 PM »
a root canal would be more fun than a Chevy Volt. [tinfoil]

And with ObamaCare, electric car tax breaks, and GM bailout, taxpayers can pay for both!

Jamie B

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #21 on: September 10, 2011, 04:47:55 PM »
I do wonder if there is some type of low fuel warning.

Like Mabs, what goes up must come down.....
Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength - Henry Ward Beecher

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Doggy Daddy

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #22 on: September 10, 2011, 05:24:06 PM »
Does it have a 12 volt outlet for me to plug in my TomTom?

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birdman

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #23 on: September 10, 2011, 06:37:38 PM »
Does it have a 12 volt outlet for me to plug in my TomTom?

DD

It does, but that costs you 5min of hover time.

Jamie B

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Re: Commercial Jetpack in 2012
« Reply #24 on: September 10, 2011, 07:05:58 PM »
Quote
It does, but that costs you 5min of hover time.
True enough, but you will be jamming all the way to the ground!
Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength - Henry Ward Beecher

The Almighty tells me He can get me out of this mess, but He’s pretty sure you’re f**ked! - Stephen