Jet packs are back in the news this week, with Jet Pack Aviation buzzing the Statue of Liberty, “Jetman” Yves Rossy flying in formation with an A380, and the Martin Jetpack headed to China for its first flight there. Jet Pack Aviation, based in Australia, calls its hardware “the only true jetpack,” because it’s powered by a jet turbine, capable of vertical takeoff and landing, and small and light enough to be carried by the pilot and stored in the trunk of a car. Company founder David Mayman, who’s been working for years with Hollywood inventor Nelson Tyler to develop the jet pack, piloted the first public flight last Tuesday, launching from a boat in the Hudson River. Meanwhile, Martin Aircraft Co., of New Zealand, has attracted Chinese investment for its jet pack design and plans a first flight there on Dec. 6.
The Martin jet pack is powered by two ducted fans, and has a flight duration of up to 45 minutes. The company says it will start deliveries late next year and has been taking orders for the aircraft online for a few months. About 1,000 potential buyers in China have expressed interest, the company said, comprising both emergency services providers and flight enthusiasts. And in Dubai last week, “Jetman” Yves Rossy and Vince Reffet went for a flight in formation with an Emirates A380, after deploying from a helicopter. The duo fly with jet-powered wings and return to Earth with parachutes.
