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Personal Jetpacks cleared for take off.

by whateverpedia
22 replies
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Science fiction becomes reality:

A mainstay of popular science fiction and futurist conventions since the 1920s, the personal jetpack will move a step closer to reality on Tuesday when the New Zealand-based Martin Aircraft Company lists on the Australian stock exchange.Martin Aircraft is boasting that it can offer “the world’s first practical jetpack able to be flown by a pilot or via remote control”.

...

The company is already taking orders for the device, to be manufactured in Christchurch, and says it will be commercially available by 2017.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...market-listing
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    The age of the Jetsons is finally nigh.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Well it's about bloody time!


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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I want one. Great opportunity for insurance companies. Come up with the first Jetpack crash policies.
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    • Profile picture of the author agc
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      I want one. Great opportunity for insurance companies. Come up with the first Jetpack crash policies.
      Hey, I'm offering to write the first policy right now.

      For $1m in coverage, the premium will be $1.5m.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Great opportunity for insurance companies. Come up with the first Jetpack crash policies.
      Having worked in the insurance industry, I can tell you that there is not a snowball's chance in hell of any insurer touching these with a bargepole. Your going to be well and truly on your own if you fly/ride in one of them.
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      • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
        I\d love to have one - instead of getting stuck in traffic on the highway - you take your jetpack and you wave gleefully to all the motorists stuck in gridlock
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      • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
        Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

        Having worked in the insurance industry, I can tell you that there is not a snowball's chance in hell of any insurer touching these with a bargepole. Your going to be well and truly on your own if you fly/ride in one of them.
        I think you guys are way overestimating the danger of these... people jump out of planes from that heights ALL THE TIME... there's really not much difference, either way, you have a parachute, though with the jetpack, you just don't need to use it most of the time.

        But sure, I can understand why it wouldn't be worth it for an insurance company to do their due diligence on such a small niche of wealthy enthusiasts.
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        • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
          Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

          I think you guys are way overestimating the danger of these... people jump out of planes from that heights ALL THE TIME... there's really not much difference, either way, you have a parachute, though with the jetpack, you just don't need to use it most of the time.

          But sure, I can understand why it wouldn't be worth it for an insurance company to do their due diligence on such a small niche of wealthy enthusiasts.
          I'm not sure what it's like where you are, but in Australia if you participate in skydiving you will not be able to get life insurance. Even if you only do it once during your entire lifetime, it voids your policy. You get injured, disabled or even killed doing it - tough luck - no insurance money. Pure and simple.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
    I've been following the Martin Jetpack for a long time... it's an absolutely marvelous invention, and I appreciate you taking the time to post this update.

    The inventor's quite a genius.

    It's actually not technically a jet pack, but personal, jet pack-like helicopter, so to speak... but it functions the same way, and unlike ACTUAL jet packs, it can reasonably be controlled.

    OMG I want one so bad.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      It's so sleek and compact.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    You have no idea how much I want one of these things. Do you realize how easy it would make life having that to go into some areas to get gemstones? Holy cow. I sooooooooo want one of these things. I even know the first 3 places I wanna drive it.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    There's absolutely no way I'd kill myself on one of those. Nope. None.
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I don't like the idea of high flying in one, either, Dan but 5 feet or so off the ground wouldn't bother me. It's not the height of the flight I'm after - it's the ease of transport.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I don't like the idea of high flying in one, either, Dan but 5 feet or so off the ground wouldn't bother me. It's not the height of the flight I'm after - it's the ease of transport.
      They've already successfully gone up 5k feet, a while back, and said they may be able to get it up to 10k feet. I'd honestly love to go up that high, personally. The jetpack's been fully operational for a couple of years now, and the rest of the time they've just been (mostly) focused on making sure it's absolutely safe, I believe. So, I don't think there's a huge personal danger. You're strapped in securely, and of course, it has a built-in parachute, so it should be as safe, if not safer than a typical parachute pack.

      Here's a video:

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      • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
        Yes, saw this a few years ago, good idea. Well, l saw the Heller flying platform in the 80's, or was it the 90's, oh, well, a while ago.

        And it used two mini jet engines and could fly for half an hour also, but it used jet fuel, so this is a step up for the hobbyist, (well, a rich, hobbyist).

        True, as Sal has said, l wouldn't scale a cliff with one of those things; but they are sure to put in a emergency parachute.

        Although fly 20 storeys up and you would be in for a rough landing or it may not open in time?


        I would personally go for the hush-hush, zero energy antigravity version. Runs forever, and an emergency mini version could be easily added, so a comfy landing is possible regardless of height!

        Couldn't sell it commercially, but plenty of individuals are messing around with it in their backyards!

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    • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I don't like the idea of high flying in one, either, Dan but 5 feet or so off the ground wouldn't bother me. It's not the height of the flight I'm after - it's the ease of transport.

      If the inventor of the Segway can't even keep himself alive on the ground....

      Segway tycoon Jimi Heselden dies in cliff plunge on one of his own scooters | Daily Mail Online


      In all honesty, I jest. However, I'll pass for the same reason I won't ride a motorcycle: I'm an idiot. It wouldn't be but two minutes before the last thing my wife would ever hear me say is, "Hey, watch this."
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      Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Somebody's got to say it...


    Folks should be required to have a jetpack licence. It will spawn new industries like driving schools in some places but it should be in all places.
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  • Profile picture of the author WalkingCarpet
    Banned
    Joe will need at least two of them get off.
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  • Profile picture of the author agc
    He isn't the inventor. Dean Kamen is.

    He bought the company just before he, ahem, crashed.
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  • Profile picture of the author agc
    ok now THAT is the best wikipedia page ever. lol
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