Photos: The jet pack blasts off

The commute just got easier

By Nick Heath, 1 August 2008 15:19

Man's obsession with strapping a rocket to his back and blasting into the atmosphere stretches back to the 1960's sci-fi of The Jetsons and Lost in Space.

Forty years later a New Zealand inventor Glenn Martin shot skyward using a 200HP water-cooled piston engine running on petrol.

Martin hovered off the ground, pictured, and showed off his aeronautical skills to rapturous applause at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008, one of the world's biggest air shows in Wisconsin in the US.

Photo credit: EAA

Comments

There are 2 comments. Join the discussion

  1. 1. anonymous

    Might have some trouble getting through the office door though.

  2. 2. Karen Challinor

    americans get to make some fun devices in their garages don't they

    try anything like that over here and the anti terrorism squad would be kicking down your front door demanding to know why you needed a couple of ducted fans, closely followed by the aviation authorities

    I can see the armed forces being very interested in it

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