Company Demos Personal Aircraft, Future Jetpack

coondoggie writes "Earlier this week researchers with the company ESG Elektroniksystem in Germany demonstrated a form of 'strap-on jet wing' that lets a user truly fly through the air. The system, called Gryphon, consists of a six-foot wing and hand-held rotary controls for the rudder. The pilot has several different instruments available to him, including onboard oxygen and helmet that features a heads-up display. 'Researchers say the final version of the flying wing will contain an electronic system that will take care of some of the steering for the pilot which today can be a little tricky, researchers say. The company also plans to add small jets to the wing making it a true jetpack in the future.'"

Re:Ridiculous

[deft]

As opposed to your design where the head is.... facing backwards?

thats where it has to go, and sorry, but if theres an impact, it doesnt matter WHERE the head is, it will shortly be smashed on the pavement. This system is designed to land by parachute, wings on back.

Re:Safety..?

[(H)elix1]

It's not in the capability of an average man to pilot his own personal plane, be it just pair of wings on his back, unless a computer does 99.9% of the job. And if it does it, then it better be coordinated centrally with all other flying personal jets in the area.

I suspect you over estimate how hard it is to learn to fly. I flew solo after 10 hours of instruction, and that was with some pucker factor built in. Learning to crash (gracefully) and navigate ate up another 30 hours, and another 4 hours practicing for the test. The hardest part might just be the medical. (grin) Once you get past remembering to put the gear down, jet engine is not much harder than a constant speed prop.

As for signing stuff... depends on how they license this thing. They sell it as under 'sport aircraft' regs, it takes even less training to fly less than even experimental. Usually the gating factor is getting someone willing to insure you.

Re:where's my flying car

[Jane Q. Public]

You will not see people commuting in "flying cars" until there is fully automatic flight and traffic control. To do otherwise would be utter mayhem. Only recently -- with cell phones and their towers -- have we established that we actually have the technology to build such an automated traffic-control network. And you had better believe that it will be some years before it is built, because you will have to convince someone that they can make a profit on it.

Re:Remember kiddies, this is not a real jet pack

[rts008]

See this link in TFA to help keep your bubble from completely bursting.http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,428830,00.html [spiegel.de]

I know it goes against /. rules to RTFA, much less check out links in TFA, but in this case I did.

Disclaimer: I was a paratrooper, and this intrigued me...I wish I could be a part of bringing this about, but my teflon kneecaps (from the last jump I ever made...#433) dissuade me from trying to keep up with the young ones now.

I wish them all of the success in the world for this, military AND civilian applications!
Fsck hang gliding, parasailing, etc...jump out of a C-130 at 20,000 ft. with a Gryphon and an O2 bottle and CRUISE like superman for more than a few very short minutes before having to 'pop the chute' and worry about the ground!

Pedants need not reply...If you haven't went HALO, you have no concept of WTF is going on here!
The only possible better physical experience than HALO, is HALO with sex...but there is that whole windchill/cold temp thing to deal with!

Another jet pack

[biomass]

A nice video demonstration of an
awesome jet pack [youtube.com]

Re:Remember kiddies, this is not a real jet pack

[jeti]

However, it's worth to follow the link to Yves Rossy [jet-man.com].
He has a working civilian version with engines strong enough for ascending.