Have you travelled by flight? Or how about even personal flight? There are a lot of airlines around the world as many as we can go wherever we want. Although the world is very wide and each country is very far from each other, we can get to there easily by spending a number of time on a plane as if this world is a small area. Nowaday, even island closed to the ground we can go by plane instead of boat when we want to spend shorter time. If some day human can fly in the air as free as a bird by themselves, it will be possible whether or not?In the article, "Martin Jetpack" published by Time magazine. It was voted to be one in the best 50th inventions of 2010 and be the best one in transportation field. The Newzealand inventor, Glenn Martin has spent for 30 years to develop it by using inspiration from cartoons, such as Buck rocker and films, such as Jame bond in Thunderball part since he attended an university then achieved it in 1981. It consists of 2 stoke V4 engine-4 vertical cylinders- with 2000 cc of all cyliders, the body parts made with carbon fibre composite and the 1.7 ft diameter rotor made with carbon kevlar composite. Its total weight is 240 kgs, but it can tranmit torque about 200 horsepower at 6000 rpm as much as Honda Accord engine. It can take pilot to fly maximum over ground about 8000 ft at 63 miles per an hour. Energy comsumption is 32 mile per 5 gallons of gasoline fuel. It will be sold with cost $100000 in 2011. The company informs that you might not have ability enough to fly with it though you are a millionare because you have to get many practices and attend training from them then pass their examination before you get right certificate. Moreover, flying with jetpack which is legal or illegal depends on each country law.
Acually I should have picked a news on NY times or the Economist to post on this blog, but about one week ago I just knew about something interesting from Time magazine. That is an announcement about the 50th invention is available on Time magazine. I always follow it every year in particular robotic, transpotation and bioengineer field. There have been a lot of inventions to spend my time to learn and read them. Although some invention has been created and invented by budget of companies or foundations, and their article sometimes seems to be commercial more than human innovation, at least it states that nothing is impossible.
Martin company sells it about $100000. That is it is more expensive than personal plane about $25000, and its safety is still a serious topic for me. If fuel was empty in the air when we use it, a trouble happened from bird, blower engine was damaged during flying, it would scare me. The solution to those problem which is shown on their website is not clear enough for me to have confidence to use it. Nothing on their website makes me feel safe because it is technical solution which give me a little imformation. However, acually it may have very high safety, but because I do not buy it and participate with them, so it is hard to define it is safety enough wether ot not. By the way, some day everybody has it in all families as if it is a basic needs in our dairy life. We use it to go to a supermarket, a cinema for a film, travel place, such as Chiang Mai in long weekend or so on. Personally, the company who sells it should set up landing area like a run way at the airport, many fuel stations, and even repair and maintenance shop at everywhere. Do you think what should be provided to support from using it? Do you have any suggestion about its ability when you read it finished?
Acually I want you to imagine. It is not serious news, and also you can learn more with a video of trial.
__________
References
1. Bill Saporito. (2010, November 11). "Martin Jetpack". Time. Retrieved November 22, 2010 from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2029497_2030622_2029786,00.html
2. "The Martin Jetpack". Martin Aircraft Company. Retrieved November 22, 2010 from http://www.martinjetpack.com/the-martin-jetpack.aspx
Interesting news! When I finished introduction part from your post and saw image, I said that nothing is impossible. It does not need more space to park as airplane. Traveler can go everywhere what they want.
ReplyDeleteAt the first time, I remind to “Doraemon” cartoon so he can fly as a bird by using his bamboo machine. According to this article, Glenn Martin got inspiration from cartoons. It sounds normal for me because cartoons are come from human imagination. Everything is around me now. I believe it coming from human imagination in the past. There are normal problems happening for the first innovation. It may be want to spend more time to improve and support from using it. Actually, I do not understand how it works (when I was in high school, I failed in torque lesson :D) but I agree in his effort to develop and use advantage of the new technology. The thing that make me afraid to use it is the cost of machine and practicing and training class.
This new kind of vehicle which result from new technological innovation can be one of example proving that human have ability to create whatever we imagine.The things you watch on TV programmes or movie today can be real in the near future. Although the Martin Jetpack has many advantages, I agree with the problems P'A mentioned such as danger of using it and the price is also extremely expensive now. Personally, I think it should be in developing process until we can assure it's adequately safe.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if Martin Jetpack will be used as normal vehicle to go to shopping at supermarket, we might have to build more transport routes but they will be on the sky instead of on the land.
NK,
ReplyDeleteIts work is like turbine of plane, but Jetpack's blower is smaller than plane. It consists of 2 blower on left and right hand side. Air will be flown at the inlet the inlet on the top of its through the outlet with releasing severely. We can control direction from harness in front of a pilot.
NK and Miw,
It's quite interesting to see a lot of people to fly by using it in the air. However, I'm quite wonder if crash accident happened, we could phone to insurance staff for claim whether or not?