Join Tom and Scott as they discuss this: “It’s been a long time coming. While Arthur C. Clarke’s geosync satellites have taken to space, and James Bond’s futuristic mobile technology has become commonplace, still the dream of sustained personal flight has eluded us — until now. At $86,000, the Martin Aircraft jetpack costs about as much as a high-end car, achieves a 30-minute flight time, and is fueled by regular gasoline. A 10% deposit buys you a production slot for 12 months hence.”
And, we get a great reader submission from Jeff Stockwell, and is Episode 1 Jabba voice.
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I know we’ve all been promised flying cars and personal flight vehicles of one kind or another since we were kids, but I want you all to SERIOUSLY consider the consequences of this. Imagine all the idiots you ever complained about on the road, cutting you off, speeding past you at unsafe speeds, or using their vehicle as a toy, and now imagine them coming from any direction. Whenever anybody rekindles this idea it gives me chills. You should at least be competent enough to be a pilot in order to fly, or it needs to be mostly automated beforehand, just my opinion.
I’m a little behind but I heard this episode today. Back in the early 2000′s when I worked down in Sunnyvale, CA there was a company that made something very similar. They would run tests almost every week and it wasn’t hard to know when it occurred since it make tons of noise. It was like having 5 cars all revving at max rpm’s. One day a co-worker and I were on break and witnessed one of these test. Most of them were very uneventful and just seeing a grown man attached to this thing was kind of comical. Then suddenly we heard a loud crack sound and then we saw a small object fly through the air and hit a car maybe 20ft away from us. Suddenly everything stopped and we saw someone run across to our side and pick up that object that flew across. I guess they can chalk that up as a failed attempt. At first I thought this was the same company but when I looked at your article the company was from New Zealand. Perhaps they picked up and moved. Anyway, it’s interesting to see something actually make it to market. Seeing one of these first hand it’s really hard to imagine flying around in one of these things. They just seem too awkward.
Stunning pics! I appreciate the post so much! xoxo