The New Wave of Personal Flight

In November, we wrote about a jetpack that was being made available to the general public - well, for those who have $250,000 to spare.

It's called the JB-10, and it was fabricated by Jetpack Aviation. A month prior, CEO David Mayman successfully flew the jetpack off the coast of Monaco.

Regarding specs, this jetpack comes packed with twin jet engines and 7 percent more power than it's former JB-9 model. It can ascend to 305 meters (1,000 ft) per minute and lasts about 5 to 10 minutes per ride.

 

"It's like a Segway," Mayman described. “If you want to go forward, you just lean forward. If you want to stop, you just lean back. It’s incredibly simple. If you wanted to fly a helicopter, you’d need 150 hours of training — but with this, you can learn everything you need to know in about 3 hours.”

Ready to buy one? Not just yet. The JB-10 might be available for consumers, but only to "well-qualified buyers." It's a company tactic to prevent people from flying recklessly. So they announced a contest to award one lucky person the special opportunity to test fly the JB-10 as Jetpack Aviation's first civilian guinea pig. This is an incredible occasion, knowing that Mayman is the only one to have flown one as of yet.

Mayman hopes to include safety training for potential customers as part of the sales process in the near future. If this civilian flight is successful, it will pave the way for a new era of personal flight. Also on his radar is an all-electric jetpack that will be used to train test pilots without the gas-guzzling feature.

Want More Jetpack Ideas? 

Other options for a good time in the air include BW-Air, a golf cart jetpack that was released by the Martin Aircraft Company. It can rise up to 914 meters (3,000 feet), and can reach speeds of up to 46 mph (74 km/hr). Only hurdles: a mere $200,000 and a permit to ride from authorities.

Martin Aircraft Company also engaged in another project, partnering with Dubai officials in order to tackle the issue of fighting fires from skyscrapers. These jetpacks accelerate up to speeds of 75 km/hr (46 mph) and can reach up to 914 meters (3,000 feet). That's slightly taller than the Burj Khalifa. 

With all these technological advancements, what will they come up with next? We're excited to find out.