Jet Packs

[Zvezda]

A bit bulky but betterthan nothing.

[scottm]

A bit bulky but betterthan nothing.

Strange you don't need a license for it. I hear the blue flight suit which comes with it can come with or without the cobra insignia.

[Zvezda]

I actually doubt that. Why should a reasonable person buy one when it does not have a Cobra insignia on it?

[ReHerakhte]

I actually doubt that. Why should a reasonable person buy one when it does not have a Cobra insignia on it?

But on a serious note, I believe the non-requirement for a licence will probably be determined by the country it's sold in and how they classify the vehicle. For example, if it's classed as a recreational device like a jetski, most countries would probably not see it as necessary to need a licence to operate it.

** Rant **
I hate how they call it a jetpack when it obviously has no jets

[Zvezda]

Yep, I agree. It would harldly be possible to 'fly' that thing in the EU without a licence. Till you netioned it I have not even realized that it obviously has no jets!

[ReHerakhte]

Hehehe - that's just me being a grumpy old man. It uses ducted fans for lift but jetpack is easier to write up (as well as actually say) than ducted-fan-pack and fan-pack just sounds wrong.
However, I can't help myself and it annoys me when writers (I would not call any of them journalists anymore, proper journalism died out many years ago) use the easiest terms they can (or perhaps the "laziest terms they can" would be more correct?)

But to keep on track, I hope they have more success than the Solo-Trek and the Springtail. I think the Solo-Trek faded into obscurity but the tech was kept alive as the Springtail http://www.trekaero.com/ although the Springtail also seems to suffer from a similar lack of interested private buyers.

[scottm]

Hehehe - that's just me being a grumpy old man. It uses ducted fans for lift but jetpack is easier to write up (as well as actually say) than ducted-fan-pack and fan-pack just sounds wrong.
However, I can't help myself and it annoys me when writers (I would not call any of them journalists anymore, proper journalism died out many years ago) use the easiest terms they can (or perhaps the "laziest terms they can" would be more correct?)

But to keep on track, I hope they have more success than the Solo-Trek and the Springtail. I think the Solo-Trek faded into obscurity but the tech was kept alive as the Springtail http://www.trekaero.com/ although the Springtail also seems to suffer from a similar lack of interested private buyers.

Hm. Solo-Trek sounds like one of those transporters out of the first movie that got an Away Team where it was going.. in like nine pieces.

The springtail. I've got one of those in our backyard. Take off is great. Landing: not so great. Home Insurance isn't really thrilled with the idea. The big neighbors call it a trampoline. The little neighbors don't call it anything because it keeps breaking them.

[Zvezda]

I agree on that journalism thing. Though I feel that there are still some english language papers and broadcasting houses which are slightly above the average wierdness today.