 We have all seen Jetpacks, a man standing with this huge framework of tanks and hoses strapped to him and he gently takes off and zooms around a bit then lands again, most probably because his fuel was nearly spent. We've all seen pictures of this or even old B/W videos from the 50s and 60s. The typical jet pack is powered by a chemical reaction that is not only expensive and hard to obtain, but very short lived. I recently wrote an article on a jet pack speed record that was set in England, and even though they seem to have been able to speed it up the jet pack is still quickly exhausted 40 years later. All the incredible advancements we have made in the last 40 years and still the "practical" jet pack seems unobtainable. Even if the fuel issue were solved there is still the incredible inherent danger involved. The operational altitude of a jet pack is well below safe parachute altitude, which means any problems are more than likely fatal.
Although the JetLev is not an answer to this problem, as much as a different approach. Firstly, the propellant is water. Easily obtainable and cheap. However, this means that the operational arena for this unit, is only over water. So as a Thrill seeking adventure, it has some real merit, such as near a beach resort. But as far as a possible personal transport vehicle, it hardly fits the bill unless you live somewhere that requires a ride on a ferry everyday. The safety aspect has been address by the length of the umbilical which attaches the pilot to the floating water pump. The pump which pressurizes the water is in a small floating unit, which through the attachment by hose, makes the JetLev quite inherently stable. With a hose length of 28 feet, the worst circumstance could leave you with a small free fall into the water, basically harmless. However at $129,000 the only real market I see is in the beach resort tourist traps. Here's the JetLev in action : JetLev.com
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Today in Aviation History :
July 30, 1935... Lieutenant Frank Akers of the U.S. Navy becomes the first person to make a "blind" landing at sea. His biplane has a hooded cockpit allowing him to see only his controls and instruments. He lands on the USS Langley.
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Free paper planes for the kids
www.funpaperairplanes.com www.paperairplanes.co.uk/ www.bestpaperairplanes.com/
www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/
www.10paperairplanes.com/
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Aviation Weather Links
www.nws.noaa.gov/
www.noaa.gov/wx.html
http://maps.avnwx.com/
www.usairnet.com/weather/
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