Since Bell Aerosystems debuted the first working jet pack prototype in the 1960’s, jet packs have become an iconic statement of retrofuturism, piquing the imagination of people young and old in much the same way that hoverbikes do. Generations of engineers have aspired to take a crack at delivering a practical assembly once and for all. And we’re getting close, that’s for sure. Just earlier this month, a human pilot flew a real working jet pack for 26 blazing seconds of brilliance at the “Future is Here” festival in Washington DC.
In honor of the festival’s thematic focus on space, science-fiction, and technologies of tomorrow, aerodynamics lab Jet Pack international (Jet P.I.) showcased their Jet Pack H202 by flying around the inside of the Ronald Reagan building of the International Trade Center. The flight was Jet P.I.’s first indoor demonstration within the United States apart from the company’s testing center.
Unlike its fossil fuel-reliant predecessors, Jet Pack H202 generates thrust from a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen gas wrought on by a silver catalyst. The ensuing transformation produces jets of compressed steam that are invisible to the naked-eye
Jet Pack H202 is not for the faint of heart; it produces enough force to propel a pilot up to a maximum speed of 70 mph and is able to attain a maximum height of 120 ft. over a maximum distance of 1320 ft. ─ not bad for capacity of 4.3 gallons steam power. The fully-assembled device isn’t yet available for purchase, but it is expected to cost between $100,000 and $150,000. However, Jet P.I. is currently selling individual components for the hobbyists who want to assemble the jet pack themselves.
Via DiscoveryNews
Advertisement
