Posted on 06/18/2007 2:32:01 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Jet Packs Finally On Sale: How to Buy Your Rocket Belt The good news: Not one, but two companies are selling jet packs. The bad news: The tech has a long way to go.
To some extent, everyone's in the market for a jet pack. But since Bell Labs built the first rocket belt (the correct, if less exciting, name) in 1953, potential buyers have been stymied by two problems: Rocket belts aren't for sale, and even prototypes run on modern-day fuel (as opposed to whatever the Jetsons use) — which means rocket belts can weigh upwards of 100 pounds, with only enough fuel to stay aloft for under a minute. Now, a pair of companies have solved one of these problems — rocket belts are for sale.
Mexican start-up Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) offers its custom-built TAM Rocket Belt for $250,000, which includes flight and maintenance training. On a full tank of hydrogen peroxide the belt weighs 124 to 139 pounds (the bigger the pilot, the bigger the belt), and provides 30 seconds of flight. TAM's sole competitor is Jetpack International, a Colorado-based company that sells what it calls "the world's longest-flying jet pack." Technically speaking, it's true — the hydrogen-peroxide-burning Jet Pack H202 can stay in the air for 33 seconds, 3 seconds longer than TAM's model. The H202 weighs 139 pounds, and is competitively priced at $155,000, flight classes and all.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
At last! The future is here!
How far can you go in 33 seconds? Would it be good for a short commute?
Rockets (and jets for that matter) aren’t all that efficient.
The US Army looked at this tech. It was in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics. Imagine an army suddenly appearing above a battlefield. Imagine an army suspended above terrain and trying to set down without crashing. The Army decided not.
"Mexican start-up Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) offers its custom-built TAM Rocket Belt for $250,000..."
It should be good enough to get you over a southern border fence. At $250,000 illict drug importers can afford the expense and rent them to "coyotes" and their clients.
Big deal. Commando cody was flying with his jet pack and bullet shaped belmet in 1953!!
January 1966 Popular Science, page 60
“James Bond’s Weird World of Inventions in Thunderball”
“The Bell jet pack flying suit provides 20 seconds of flight time but only 10 seconds upward thrust, strapped over a Dacron suit to prevent the peroxide from instantly bleaching his clothing.”
41 years ago...
Imagine AA rounds bursting in their midst.
All the way to the crash
Would it be good for a short commute?
Watch Bond use the Bell Rocket Belt in the pre-title sequence in Thunderball. That's clip shows about the max distance, maybe a football field or so.
The object with parachute delivery is to get down as fast as possible without crashing. Hovering is contra-indicated.
If you go straight up, you can go twice as far!
The hardest part about these jetpacks is creating the very pure Hydrogen Peroxide needed as the fuel.
Isn't there a Problem #3: "Your ass looks like two campfire marshmallows after the flight" ?
you keep that stuff - bravo!
I'm glad that Ford/GM don't use this same marketing pitch.
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