Martin Jetpack

[MartinW 0]

 

 

 

 

John won't be too happy about the name.    I believe they've since been up to 5000 feet. 51 kilometre range. 

Edited September 12, 2017 by MartinW

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

What might the practical application of this be? Just wondering. It has Poor payload, range, speed, and no pilot protection from elements or hostile fire. This one is in fact one of the bulkiest versions of "Jet Pack" I have seen so far...it is less a Jet Pack than ducted fan powered ambulance gurney.

Not impressed in the slightest with this gizmo.

[allardjd 1,853]

Nothing but music in the sound track - I'll bet that thing is loud!

 

What exactly is it capable of doing that a modern drone can't?

 

What is the power source and fuel?  Probably not batteries.  Can you spell "Internal Combustion Engine"?  Oh, the humanity!

 

I'll let the market decide.  

 

John

 

EDIT:  Actually, it IS a drone - pilot optional.

 

JDA

[MartinW 0]

Applications according to the company are envisaged to be:

 

Quote

 

The Specialist Martin Jetpack has been designed to deliver rapid deployment and extend mission capability for specialist operations, including Police, Fire, Homeland Security, Search & Rescue and Disaster Response. Roles include... 

• rapid response and recovery
• initial intervention
• vertical resupply of vital equipment and personnel
• intelligence, surveillance, reconnaisance
• rapid deployment of specialist teams and equipment
• others as per customer requirements

 

 

 

 

 

It is loud, very loud. Video below.

 

I agree, it is a big bulky machine. Yes, it's a 200 HP IC engine.  The technology dates back to 2008. There have been design changes of course but when the concept was originally conceived battery technology was pretty much useless for such a concept. Now, super/hyper capacitors are with us, not to mention other impressive battery tech in the pipeline. A company called Kilowatt Labs are already deploying super cap demonstration units.  So within a couple of years this concept will probably be redundant. 

 

I suspect they will probably sell a few units, but they certainly won't be taking the market by storm.

 

It can be manned or unmanned. 

 

Most of the companies videos are with music, no engine sound, but I did find this....

 

 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2017 by MartinW

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

Hmm...if it can fly unmanned/remotely piloted, it could be a good way to rescue a single person from a sketchy location...so long as the 'victim' is capable of strapping themselves into the unit when it arrives. It's much smaller footprint compared to a conventional copter could be a huge advantage in some situations.

 

[allardjd 1,853]

50 minutes ago, Captain Coffee said:

...a good way to rescue a single person from a sketchy location...so long as the 'victim' is capable of strapping themselves into the unit when it arrives.

 

Unless, of course, the rescuee insists on bringing her three pit bulls, his cannonball collection, or it's Michael Moore, Gloria Lardache or the famous Bertha Butt (she was one of the Butt sisters).

 

John

[brett 2,316]

Sign me up for one of those that think this has a very limited use and their write up for the applications are stretching it.  Oh yeah, it's reeeeeeeealy loud.

[J G 927]

I can see a use for them with emergency services. They could deliver a paramedic to places that a conventional helicopter could not reach and for sure land somewhere with too smaller space for a chopper to land. Being remotely piloted would mean that the paramedic would not need to know how to fly the thing, and it could be used to lift people out from difficult places one at a time. Perhaps a version that allows the person aboard to lie prone would be useful from a rescue perspective.

 

It is early days but I see potential.

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

So that's what happens when engineering students get hold of their Mums ironing board and Dads leaf blower!     I take "operational silence" was not part of the design brief.. You could hear that thing coming for miles!