Martin Jetpack: How Much Would You Pay To Be A Test Pilot?

An eBay auction (ending in 10 hours) offers the chance to be amongst the first to go through the Jetpack’s test pilot training program. You’ll need to be over 18, have a driver’s licence, be under 90kg…and have $US35,000 spare.

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]