Oshkosh: Kiwi launches $130,000 jetpack: Up, up and away

"GillesK" wrote

To keep you waiting :
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/...ca/jetpack.php

Believe it or not, ABC had a short story and video of it flying at Oshkosh.
They billed it as "an air show in Wisconsin" or was it "an air show in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin?" Nothing to say about how big of a deal Oshkosh is. :-(

It still only flew a few feet off the ground, with a couple people holding
onto the skids for stabilization.

I gotta ask, what is keeping them from having self stabilized flight? It
seems like a couple rate gyros and servos attached to some vanes would have
this thing flying truly solo. For heavens sakes, this is common technology
in the remote control helicopter world, and some other ducted fan RC flying
"thingies" I have seen flying.

I applaud the achievements of him and his machine, but have to wonder why he
has not taken the next step.
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote

I applaud the achievements of him and his machine, but have to wonder why
he has not taken the next step.

After reading what I wrote, I fear it may come off as being insensitive.

I do understand the need to proceed carefully, as to keep from getting
someone killed, since a flying machine like this has a flight envelope that
would be very unforgiving of a mechanical failure at some points in
transition.

I was just voicing puzzlement, and wondering what the technical difficulties
are in achieving controlled hover, and when the time is right, transition to
flying at much higher altitudes and speeds.

Oh, and when the jetpack (bad name, IMHO) is fully functional, if someone
gives me the purchase price (like that's gonna happen ;-) ) put my name on
the waiting list to buy one! g
--
Jim in NC

In article , says...

"GillesK" wrote

To keep you waiting :
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/...ca/jetpack.php

Believe it or not, ABC had a short story and video of it flying at Oshkosh.
They billed it as "an air show in Wisconsin" or was it "an air show in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin?" Nothing to say about how big of a deal Oshkosh is. :-(

It still only flew a few feet off the ground, with a couple people holding
onto the skids for stabilization.

I gotta ask, what is keeping them from having self stabilized flight? It
seems like a couple rate gyros and servos attached to some vanes would have
this thing flying truly solo. For heavens sakes, this is common technology
in the remote control helicopter world, and some other ducted fan RC flying
"thingies" I have seen flying.

I applaud the achievements of him and his machine, but have to wonder why he
has not taken the next step.

Me too - they had another article on NZ news tonight - it didn't look
very impressive to me - hovering a few feet off the ground (is it only
capable of ground effect flight I wonder?), and with guys hanging onto
the landing bars. Hmmm... few more years needed there methinks.

--
Duncan

On Jul 31, 1:26 am, Dave Doe wrote:
In article , says...





"GillesK" wrote

To keep you waiting :
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/...ca/jetpack.php

Believe it or not, ABC had a short story and video of it flying at Oshkosh.
They billed it as "an air show in Wisconsin" or was it "an air show in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin?" Nothing to say about how big of a deal Oshkosh is. :-(

It still only flew a few feet off the ground, with a couple people holding
onto the skids for stabilization.

I gotta ask, what is keeping them from having self stabilized flight? It
seems like a couple rate gyros and servos attached to some vanes would have
this thing flying truly solo. For heavens sakes, this is common technology
in the remote control helicopter world, and some other ducted fan RC flying
"thingies" I have seen flying.

I applaud the achievements of him and his machine, but have to wonder why he
has not taken the next step.

Me too - they had another article on NZ news tonight - it didn't look
very impressive to me - hovering a few feet off the ground (is it only
capable of ground effect flight I wonder?), and with guys hanging onto
the landing bars. Hmmm... few more years needed there methinks.


Well if you consider the hours that the Harrier spent in tethered
flight before it was let loose this machine is doing well.
However, I wouldn't like to be the test pilot.

"Morgans" wrote in message
...
It still only flew a few feet off the ground, with a couple people holding
onto the skids for stabilization.

I saw the video on network TV, and I didn't notice anything that I would call
"flight". It looked like the thrust from the ducted fans was carrying much of
the weight, and some big guys were doing the rest.

I don't want to minimize anything that this fellow has accomplished so far,
but I found myself wondering where the news story was.

Vaughn

On Jul 30, 6:10 pm, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:
"Morgans" wrote in message

... It still only flew a few feet off the ground, with a couple people holding
onto the skids for stabilization.

I saw the video on network TV, and I didn't notice anything that I would call
"flight". It looked like the thrust from the ducted fans was carrying much of
the weight, and some big guys were doing the rest.


Did the tv show the amount of people that booo'ed him?

"Lou" wrote

Did the tv show the amount of people that booo'ed him?

No! Did people really booo at him?
--
Jim in NC

On Jul 31, 9:03 am, "Morgans" wrote:
"Lou" wrote

Did the tv show the amount of people that booo'ed him?

No! Did people really booo at him?
--
Jim in NC


Oh yea.

"Lou" wrote in message
...
On Jul 31, 9:03 am, "Morgans" wrote:
"Lou" wrote

Did the tv show the amount of people that booo'ed him?

No! Did people really booo at him?
--
Jim in NC


Oh yea.

Wow, that must have been hard for his ego (and wallet) to take.

What do you suppose the percentage of the crowd was booing, and what was
their demographics, if it could be placed on one group or age?

I have to admit, that while I do think they are being overly cautious, I am
surprised at that reaction from the crowd.

I think I read somewhere that they would not be taking flights of
significant altitude until they had something like 600 hours without
trouble. That seems extreme, if that was accurate.
--
Jim in NC

On Aug 1, 7:32 am, "Morgans" wrote:
"Lou" wrote in message

...

On Jul 31, 9:03 am, "Morgans" wrote:
"Lou" wrote

Did the tv show the amount of people that booo'ed him?

No! Did people really booo at him?
--
Jim in NC

Oh yea.

Wow, that must have been hard for his ego (and wallet) to take.

What do you suppose the percentage of the crowd was booing, and what was
their demographics, if it could be placed on one group or age?

I have to admit, that while I do think they are being overly cautious, I am
surprised at that reaction from the crowd.

I think I read somewhere that they would not be taking flights of
significant altitude until they had something like 600 hours without
trouble. That seems extreme, if that was accurate.
--
Jim in NC

Jim, I couldn't tell you the demographics, but I'd have to say in
the neighborhood of 10-12%. I was disappointed, but until I have
a successful jet pack, I'm not booing anyone.
Lou