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Finally, the prospect of being able to take a Jetpack to work is within reach and it is with thanks to a Christchurch inventor.
Glenn Martin, inventor of the Martin Jetpack and Managing Director of Martin Aircraft Company, has proven that a practical jetpack is now possible. The Martin Jetpack delivers on the long-awaited dream of personal flight without being enclosed in a traditional aircraft. “We’ve made it possible to fly the dream,” says Glenn. “But the best part of this is that it’s not just our dream. It belongs to everyone.”
Glenn has devoted almost 30 years to the research and development of the Martin Jetpack. After coming up with the initial idea in 1981, Glenn went on to found the Martin Aircraft Company in 1998, specifically to develop a jetpack that could fly 100 times longer than the 26 seconds of the Bell Rocket Belt. In 2005, the ninth prototype achieved sustained flight times, laying the foundation for a viable and successful pre-production prototype to be developed.
The Martin Jetpack was unveiled to the world at the Oshkosh Air Show in the US. For Glenn, it was pay-off for “the sheer bloody-minded persistence of a group of people who refused to believe it couldn’t be done.”
The Martin Jetpack has a patented fan jet technology, runs on regular petrol, complies with Ultralight regulations and is easy to fly after completion of a unique training programme. The implications of a personal flight vehicle that will transport people over all terrains are not lost on the armed forces and huge recreational markets.
Helicopters require a tail rotor to counteract the rotor torque; this, and the articulated head complicate flying, construction and maintenance enormously. The Jetpack is designed to be Torque Neutral – there is no tail rotor, no collective, no articulating head or foot pedals. This simplifies flying dramatically. Pitch and roll are controlled by one hand. Yaw and the throttle by the other.
The Martin Jetpack is equipped with a Ballistic Parachute. If something untoward happens, the pilot pulls a toggle and a small propellant (similar to one used in a car airbag) is fired rapidly, deploying a parachute. The pilot, Jetpack and parachute descend as one. The use of ballistic parachutes is now quite common in general aviation; for example, they are standard equipment in the Cirrus series of single engine aircraft.
Martin Aircraft has built several prototypes so we have a good idea of how much they cost to manufacture. Depending on production volume, the initial cost will be about the same as a high-end motorcycle or car. As volume increases, this will drop to be similar to a mid-range motorcycle or car.
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