{"id":81,"date":"2016-04-13T11:25:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T11:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/headlines\/?p=81"},"modified":"2018-06-05T13:20:25","modified_gmt":"2018-06-05T13:20:25","slug":"the-worlds-first-commercial-jetpack-coming-to-a-garage-near-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/the-worlds-first-commercial-jetpack-coming-to-a-garage-near-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The world\u2019s first commercial jetpack… coming to a garage near you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ok, maybe not to your garage. But the first commercial jetpack is<\/strong><\/em> <\/span>expected to be available later this year.<\/p>\n

New Zealand-based Martin Aircraft<\/a> has announced that it will begin selling its manned jetpack in the second half of 2016 for about $150,000. The AP reported that the jetpack is being designed for first responders such as firefighters. Martin Aircraft chief executive Peter Coker says<\/a>\u00a0the company will focus on\u00a0jetpacks for first responders now, and later for other commercial operators.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Martin Aircraft Co.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

The jetpack enables first responders to quickly get to hard to reach locations. It\u00a0can easily carry a fireman to the top of a building. The jetpack can also take first responders\u00a0to locations that are are “too constricted” for helicopters.<\/p>\n

How does it work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Martin Jetpack isn\u2019t actually a classic \u201cjet\u201d pack: It is not jet-powered. Instead, it runs on a V4 200 horsepower gasoline-powered engine that drives two ducted fans.<\/p>\n

The jetpack’s impressive capabilities:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Flight time: 30 minutes<\/li>\n
  • Speed: Up to 74 kilometers per hour (46 mph)<\/li>\n
  • Altitude: Up to 1000 meters (3280 feet)<\/li>\n
  • Max Payload: 120 kilograms. (265 pounds)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n