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First Jetpowered Flying Man
Yves Rossi, a Swiss airline pilot, has developed a working jet-pack. Think Icarus, but without that clumsy flapping.
(Yves Rossy Human Jet)
The jet-pack consists of wings with a total three meter span with four model engines built under the wings. Speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour are possible. So far, the device does not allow powered take-offs. So, he jumps out of a plane, stabilizes his flight, and then powers up. Up to four minutes of powered flight at speeds of one hundred knots have been achieved.
Science fiction readers may remember the copter harness from Robert Heinlein's 1954 novel The Star Beast:
They were half way home when a single flyer, hopping free in a copter harness, approached the little parade. The flier ignored the red warning light stabbing out from the police chief's car and slanted straight down at the huge star beast.
(Read more about Heinlein's copter harness)
If you like this device, you'll soar with these:
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- Skyray Human Glider Flight
- AirScooter II Ultralight: Heinlein's Copter Harness?
- Springtail EFV-4B Personal Air Vehicle From Trek Aerospace
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/25/2006)
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Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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