Introducing the Martin Jetpack

[hinote]

Hi all:

Here's a news link to the introduction of the Martin Jetpack today at the big Oshkosh EAA airshow:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25920430/

--just Google for it--there's lots of footage of the event. They played it safe, considering the crowd--the pilot was tethered by several "monitors" so there wouldn't be some sort of disaster.

The claims for duration alone (something like 30 minutes!) would seem to make this project a potential success.

[Bruno Ogorelec]

Sorry, Bill, just saw you post this here. I posted a long list of links in the 'Off-Topic' section of the forum. I had no intention of 'competing' with your post. I was just hugely entertained by the whole thing.

Here's my list repeated:

YouTube videos of Martin JetPack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyb6vnX1My0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgels591kXk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58YXSwiyRco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVeOwXys4uA

Popular Science Oshkosh video

http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation ... tpack-here

Oshkosh video

http://link.brightcove.com/services/lin ... 1697193584

AP

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jxJW ... wD927MUM00

Headline News

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011767177

Aero News

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?Cont ... dfc9654532

Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,393541,00.html

Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 4987.story

MSNBC article

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58YXSwiyRco

TVNZ article

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1952597

New York Times article with video

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/scien ... ck.html?hp

[Bruno Ogorelec]

To comment on the machine itself -- it's a more successful rendition of the Solo Trek layout. Mechanically, I think it's a bit of overkill. I would think a more conventional coaxial rotor assembly powered by an engine of less than half the power of the Martin engine (which is a 200 HP 2-liter two-stroke) would make a better package.

The engine for such a machine is already around -- the German-made Aixro rotary, which has been powering racing gokarts for more than two years now in great numbers. It costs $ 5,000.- I just saw it in metal the other day. It's as big as a 2-gallon drum. Fits a mid-sized backpack easily. Extremely neat and compact.

The Marting thing is almost bulkier than the twin-pulsejet-powered jet backpack that I conceived a few years ago. And that one would certainly be much cheaper than the Martin. Noisier, too.

[Jim Berquist]

Yep! Bulky it is. I want to see it fly at altitude.

[marksteamnz]

http://www.martinjetpack.com