General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Vulcan on March 02, 2016, 02:47:04 PM
Title: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Vulcan on March 02, 2016, 02:47:04 PM
It's finally becoming a commercial reality.
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: caldera on March 02, 2016, 03:39:00 PM
That's a bit large to be called a jetpack, don't you think? It's bigger than a Fiat.
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Sabre on March 02, 2016, 04:24:05 PM
Didn't they use those in "Men in Black III"? :D
Seriously, thought, I want one! Wonder what kind of range it has? I've got a 40-mile commute, one-way, which takes me an hour by car (if traffic and weather is good). This is small enough to fit in a standard parking space. After all, I'm tired of waiting for my flying car, which was promised to us half a century ago! :airplane:
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Vulcan on March 02, 2016, 05:39:14 PM
General characteristics
Crew: 1 pilot Payload: 120 kg () Length: 5 ft 7 in (1.75 m) Rotor diameter: () Height: 7 ft (2.2 m) Max. takeoff weight: 320 kg (320kg) Powerplant: 1 × Martin Aircraft Company 2-litre (120 cu in) two-stroke V-4 engine, 200 hp (150 kw) Propellers: Carbon / Kevlar composite - ducted fans in each engine propeller Fuel capacity: 45 Litres Performance
Maximum speed: 74 km/h Cruise speed: 56 km/h Stall speed: 0 km/h (0 km/h) Range: 30–40 km () Combat radius: @74 km/h + 5 min rev = 56 km () Endurance: 30 min to 50 min Service ceiling: 3,000 ft amsl () Rate of climb: 400 fpm () sink rate: 400 fpm ()
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Bear76 on March 02, 2016, 07:48:09 PM
Propeller Pack
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: USRanger on March 02, 2016, 10:25:40 PM
The future of airborne troops.
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: deSelys on March 03, 2016, 05:12:51 AM
I wonder what's the min height requirement for a successful ballistic emergency parachute deployment.
It looks to me that under 200 ft AGL, you're basically doomed in the event of an engine or ducted fan failure.
And I haven't seen any flotation devices listed in the safety items... The thing doesn't look even remotely buoyant and I wouldn't fancy a water landing. :old:
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Lusche on March 03, 2016, 08:31:03 AM
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Gman on March 03, 2016, 11:49:13 AM
I posted this here in the fall - much smaller working Jetpack, no idea if it is as far along as the Martin in terms of production though.
There are more vids of it on the channel and YT in general.
I do wonder about the practical use of these things - any engine or control failure over terrain that ISN't water, or ever from a certain height over water would = pretty assured death, I know from high angle assault courses that falls over 5m typically = huge injuries or fatal, and flying that high would probably feel "low" in one of these rigs. Fun though, but again, I'd be worried about engine failures especially, you aren't exactly aerodynamic and able to glide without wings, nor is there stored energy in a rotor to autorate - you're flying a safe once one of those engines quit I'd imagine. Splat. Or sploosh. Even sploosh you would have to get out of your harness very fast not to be dragged under and drown I bet.
I understand the attraction though, for certain. I tried one of those hydrodynamic water powered ones long ago, and was hooked, instantly.
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: Vulcan on March 03, 2016, 07:53:52 PM
That is pretty cool. Main differences seem to be endurance (Martin goes 50 min vs that 10), and payload - I believe the martin is being designed to allow a 120kg payload in addition to the pilot (not 100% sure).
Also the Martin includes a ballistic chute. There's a video of them trialing a prototype with it on youtube.
Title: Re: Martin Jetpack due to ship this year
Post by: BuckShot on March 03, 2016, 10:03:56 PM
The glide angle after losing an engine is very steep.