Aircraft Ownership
Jetpack to blast off at Oshkosh
If you’ve ever dreamed about owning your own rocket ship that can be packed away in the trunk of a car, that day is apparently near.
On Tuesday, July 29, at Oshkosh, a company will make its public debut of the Martin Jetpack. It’s scheduled to launch at 9:30 a.m. out of AirVenture’s Aeroshell Square. The creators are calling it “the most eagerly awaited personal aircraft man ever dreamed about,” in a news release.
Not much is known about the company. The Web site provides only the date of the launch. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski said the company asked to keep the project under wraps in order to build public anticipation. Knapinski did say that the company is in the Australia/New Zealand area of the world. The jetpack has been in development for some 27 years.
The project is not to be confused with Jet Pack International’s venture.
The 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball and the 1991 Disney movie The Rocketeer launched these vehicles into popular culture. There have been many other variations over the years, both military and civilian.
July 1, 2008
