Holy crap. Considering the thing will cost about $US100,000 when it goes on sale, that’s pretty extreme — even if you will be recorded as an official test pilot. Adding insult to injury, a lucky New Zealander (the Jetpack’s home country) won a local auction for about US$4130.
More a personal helicopter than a Jetpack (its lift is driven by two ducted fans), it can theoretically reach as high as 2400 metres, and move as fast as 100km/h. The company is even negotiating a “multi-million dollar deal” to supply an as-yet unknown foreign government’s civil emergency services.
You might also remember that our own Mark Wilson actually got the chance to take one for a spin — and ask its makers some important questions. As for me? My budget probably limits me to this $US2500 home made kludge-job. Such is life. [eBay via Martin Jetpack via New Zealand Herald]