PERSONAL FLIGHT SOON MAY BE A REALITY WITH THE MARTIN JETPACK

In 2010, the pack flew manned for the first time and it was named one of Time magazine’s Top 50 Inventions for the year. The Martin Aircraft Company has been working tirelessly to create a jetpack that is for leisure and personal use.

The Martin Jetpack’s composite airframe was developed using the latest technology to be lightweight, strong and rigid. Safety, of course, is first in mind when flying. Martin Aircraft Company has used a simple design and few components to ensure that the craft is both reliable and safe. Ducted fans are used in the craft, which boast a safe advantage over propellers or rotors. The tips of the blades are contained, ensuring the safety of both the pilot as well as those in the vicinity. The ease of flight increases the level of safety of the Martin Jetpack. A flight control system is coordinated and stabilized by a computer, which will keep the jetpack upright and at a static height (the craft will enter a hover pattern) if the controls are released mid-flight. During normal operations, the system automatically maintains the desired height during maneuvers. The safety of the pilot is paramount. The pilot module includes a rollover bar, frontal protection and arm restraint; the pack’s structure itself protects the pilot from the sides and rear and landing gear provides protection from below. In the event of an issue, a ballistic parachute system with a quick-opening chute enables the safety of the pilot, even if a catastrophic failure occurs at a low height.

The jetpack is capable of flying for more than 30 minutes at speeds of to 74 km per hour and altitudes above 3,000 feet. There currently is a formal waiting list for the Martin Jetpack. In order to reserve a space on this list, a minimum refundable deposit of $5,000 is needed. Currently, the target price for the Martin Jetpack is $150,000 plus delivery, tax and duty fees.