Jet Pack History

T he U.S. Army began researching rocket pack technology in 1949 at

Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. The Ordnance Rocket Center at Redstone
was the agency in charge of the program. Their goal was a back-mounted
device that could propel a single soldier into the air. n 1952, Thomas
Moore successfully tested a rocket pack which lifted him into the air, but
only for a few seconds. A device called the Jumpbelt was demonstrated at
Fort Benning, Ga., in 1958 with a slightly greater flight time. News footage
of these demonstrations fueled the public's interest in jet packs. The project
was then shifted to Bell Aerosystems in Buffalo, N.Y.
Bell developed something they called the Rocket Belt, though the official
name was the Small Rocket Lift Device (SRLD). Over the course of the
next decade, Bell's Rocket Belt made several improvements in speed and
flight time, reaching speeds up to 10 mph. Plans for a jet-powered version,
which did achieve longer flight times in initial tests, were scrapped when
the military decided it didn't fit the design parameters because it was too
large and heavy
t that point, serious industrial development of jet pack technology came to a halt. Virtually all jet packs developed ever
since have been created by amateur inventors or independent companies, and they're used primarily for public
demonstrations at thrill show events or for stunt scenes in movies. A prime example of this is Rocketman. There isn't
actually a single person known as Rocketman, rather it's a franchise that operates worldwide giving demonstrations
of a rocket belt based on the Bell Aerosystems model. Rocketman can be hired for publicity work and movie stunt
work, including custom advertising and special performances.

;es Rossy fIies his jet-powered winged suit o;er the AIps
in 2008.
Jet Pack Specs
Rocket belts run on hydrogen peroxide fuel, which is not explosive on its own. This makes rocket belts slightly safer
than jet packs. When the hydrogen peroxide is combined with pressurized liquid nitrogen and a silver catalyst, the
chemical reaction generates superheated steam that shoots out of twin rocket nozzles at 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit
(704.4 degrees Celsius). There's no flame, but it's still extremely dangerous. The result is 800 horsepower or about
300 pounds of thrust [source: CNN.com]. Hydrogen peroxide is a good, reliable fuel, and it's only by-product is water.
However, it's very expensive, costing about $250 per gallon (3.78-liters). Each flight uses almost all of the fuel in the
tank -- about seven gallons (26.5-liters) per flight.
The typical rocket belt weighs 125 pounds (56.7 kilograms) and the pilot has to weigh 175 pounds (79.4 kilograms) or
less, or the rockets won't provide enough lift. The right hand controls the throttle, while the left hand controls yaw,
which is side-to-side motion. Although rocket belts have short flight times, they can reach speeds up to 80 mph and
they accelerate incredibly quickly. Landing is accomplished by gradually easing up on the throttle.
Jet Packs For SaIe
A handful of companies currently offer jet packs for sale to the public. JetPack nternational (Jet P) is an American
company founded by Troy Widgery, creator of Go Fast energy drinks. Jet P took 50s-era rocket belt designs and
updated them with modern fuels and materials. These efforts reduced weight, improved thrust and increased flight
time to just over 30 seconds. n addition to public demonstrations, Jet P offers some of their rocket belts andjet packs
for sale. Their T-73 model is a true jet pack, with a claimed flight time of nine minutes and a sale price of $200,000.
They formerly offered a rocket belt for sale for $150,000.