The Martin Jetpack being developed by Martin Aircraft Company in New Zealand has undergone a major design overhaul. Originally designed with the leisure market in mind, the Martin Jetpack has found strong demand from a wide range of markets, including military, civil defence and recreation. Now, the company said it hoped to have a model on the market within 10 months.
The Jetpack will be able to soar to 7,000 feet and hit speeds of 50mph. It is powered by a tine 2.0 liter gasoline engine that weighs only 60 kg (132 lbs) and puts out 200 hp. Its ceiling is 3000 ft (900 m), and it is recommended for operation above 500 ft (150 m) to give the safety systems (including a rocket-deployed ballistic parachute) plenty of time to function.
Glenn Martin, founder of the Martin Aircraft Company, has been actively developing the Martin Jetpack for over 30 years and the P12, as the name suggests, is the 12th prototype. Initially working at night in the family garage on a budget of NZ$20 per month, the first serious attempts to bring the Jetback to market began in 2010. Now Martin’s vision is almost ready to splash the market.
The company has already started accepting inquiries and pre-orders, and hopes to sell its Jetpack for $100,000 (plus shipping, duties, and taxes) in the US. The initial price is expected to be a little more and in the range of $150-200K.
