by Timon Singh,
Extreme sport company Jetpack Adventures has created a James Bond-esque jetpack that blasts water jets straight down whilst propelling users 28 feet straight up in the air! The jetpack is capable of 500 foot-pounds of thrust – and the user can even steer their flight with directional nozzles.
The Jetlev R200 jetpack is powered by a 200-horsepower engine in a nearby boat that blasts water through a tethered hose to propel the jet pack up. Pilots can use the ‘fly-by-wire’ controls to take off, hover and land. All in all, the system weights 30 lbs, but unless you live by the sea, this is hardly ideal commuter transport.
“We decided at the outset that jet packs are (primarily designed for recreation)”, Jetpack Adventures said on its site. “Intuitive flight controls, inherent stability, and an effective training system means that most student pilots can learn to fly solo within a few minutes of in-water instruction.”
For first timers, instructors can remote control the device from a boat. The jetpack’s 100-litre fuel tank (which we unfortunately presume runs on fossil fuels) allows the user to stay airborne for a period of between two and three hours. If you’re interested, the water jetpack can be rented for $250 in Key West, Florida for 30 mins, or purchased completely for $99,500.
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