LONG BEACH, California (Reuters) — JetPack Aviation took to the skies above the port of Long Beach, California to demonstrate their latest portable, turbine-powered backpack.
According to the Los Angeles area company, the JB-10 is the smallest and lightest jetpack ever created. It can fly for around 10 minutes at altitudes over 6,500 feet (1981 meters) and speeds greater than 65 mph (104 kph).
Those figures were unimaginable even ten years ago, the company’s CEO David Mayman said.
“Ten years ago, the sensors weren’t available, and iPhones and smartphones have sort of led the way with sensors. Every iPhone has a little accelerometer in it, you know, like a laser gyro (gyroscope) that these days costs just cents and ten years ago, it’s probably a hundred thousand dollar Lockheed Martin part. And the turbine engines as well have come a huge way. 10-15 years ago, you literally couldn’t build a turbine engine like we’re using on this. I mean, we have two turbine engines that are producing, together, over 350 pounds of thrust, that just the computer power wasn’t available 10 years ago to do that,” Mayman said.
The JB-10 is powered by custom modified twin jet turbines, uses regular aviation or diesel fuel and can fit in the trunk of a standard car. Its power and maneuverability allow it to be used in search and rescue missions by emergency responders or military, Mayman said, something the company is developing further in its future JB-11 version.
“The JB-10 and JB-11 versions that we’re working on now could very easily extract somebody from a dangerous situation, so search and rescue. We already have a contract with the U.S. Navy and that’s great. That’s where JB-11 comes in, that’s for moving somebody — it produces more power, it’s more automated. And that enables one of their guys that’s in trouble to get out very quickly.”
Jet packs have been around for decades, but the technology keeps evolving, Mayman said. The next step for JetPack is development of a compact vertical takeoff and landing personal flight vehicle that can be flown with minimal training and stored in a regular garage.
“We’re starting to look at what we call a Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing craft, where somebody could actually sit in there with very, very little piloting skills and because of how far sensors have developed these days, and control systems, they would be able to fly from one place to another,” he said.
To that end, and to help fund research and development, safety enhancements and pilot training, JetPack launched an equity crowdfunding campaign in November. The $1 million Online Public Offering gives the general public the opportunity to invest in jetpack technology, the company said.
JetPack Aviation is not the only player in the jetpack game. Martin Aircraft said in 2015 their Martin Jetpack could go on sale commercially in 2016, although that date was later pushed back. The Martin Jetpack is larger than the JB-10 and runs on a V4 200 horsepower petrol engine that drives two ducted fans.
