"Thunder" (Thunder)
08/14/2013 at 14:10 • Filed to: planelopnik
0
5|
"Thunder" (Thunder)
08/14/2013 at 14:10 • Filed to: planelopnik | 0
| 5 |
Looks like it will ONLY be $150K for a "Recreational Jetpack".
Does anyone else just love the sound of that phrase? Recreational Jetpack. Here - say it with me...
Martin Jetpack Approved For Manned Testing
The Martin Aircraft Company says it's on track to begin deliveries of a first responder version of its personal air vehicle that it calls the Martin Jetpack now that the New Zealand government has approved manned testing of the aircraft. The government will allow Martin test pilots to fly the twin-ducted fan device up to 20 feet above ground and 25 feet above water at first and then expand the flight envelope as the concept proves itself. The company has been limited to testing the device unmanned but it has flown as high as 5,000 feet with an appropriately weighted dummy. The aircraft has been redesigned and bears only scant resemblance to the prototype that was !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! by two spotters at AirVenture Oshkosh in 2008.
CEO Peter Coker, who joined the company from the New Zealand division of Lockheed Martin last April, said the new machine is a lot better than the original. “Changing the position of the jetpack’s ducts has resulted in a quantum leap in performance over the previous prototype, especially in terms of the aircraft’s maneuverability,” Coker !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Plans are to develop and sell a $250,000 paramilitary version and heavy-lift unmanned model first and follow with a $150,000 recreational jetpack. The company is going public this year to raise the money to start production and if sales meet expectations a factory will be built in China.
Casper
> Thunder
08/14/2013 at 14:13 |
|
Didn't we just conclude wealthy people couldn't even drive their BMWs, and now they are going to get jetpacks? This should make for some interesting news stories.
crown victor victoria
> Thunder
08/14/2013 at 14:18 |
|
I look forward to how the courts handle the assisted suicide cases that result from any purchases of this product.
magman007
> Thunder
08/14/2013 at 15:03 |
|
Not sure I want a recreational jet pack built in china. Build it in europe for a higher cost, let rich people buy them, then eventually they will trickle down to the masses.
Chteelers
> Thunder
08/14/2013 at 15:59 |
|
Except not a 'jet', and not a 'pack'. Maybe ductedfanultralight?
|
Thunder
> Chteelers
08/14/2013 at 16:04 |
|
You may be onto something.
Wonder if this falls under the ultralight rules not requiring a pilot's license.
Or at least, Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) requirements.