So we've got Franky Zapata, and we've got Richard Browning building something comparable in the UK, and David Mayman in Australia. Is there anyone else?<p>Why is this all happening now? They can't all have made revolutionary breakthroughs of their own simultaneously. Is there some underlying technology that has quietly improved to the point where personal aerial dickery has become feasible?
Mentioned in the article how the French military has shown a fiscal backed interest for using this as an observation or assault platform.<p>Whilst platform is viable with gyro's or computer aided flying if you wish. How much kickback can it handle - could you actually fire a gun from this? But certainly does negate many of the aspect people have against armed drones as this is in effect a human drone.<p>But it is pretty neat, as many recall the facination with jetpacks and the dreams that we would all have them in the 60's/70's (along with flying cars), so this kinda ticks many box's of past dreams.<p>As for distance/flight time - kerosene is pretty dense energy wise, and I can't think of anything else that would be as flexible and offer greater energy density. But still, if you compare this to jetpacks - very impressive.<p>For me one use case for something like this may well be firefighting or certainly a way to escape a tall building that is on fire from your flat balcony.
I can see this as the "penthouse to penthouse" service of choice - and I for one would love to tour manhattan on one.<p>Likelihood of licensing some moron with a tank full
of jet fuel to buzz above thousands of pedestrians- about zero % :-(
I think most of the comments here are incredibly short sighted. I see this as a huge development. Nobody cares about fuel consumption when inventing a new mode of transportation that says goodbye to roads, airports, boats. This is just insane and could change the world.
I'm game for a laugh and achievement. But such ventures if proposed as commercially viable are surely a non-starter owing to environmental impact?
You gotta give it to those cops playing with the protesters in the second video... Judging by the difference in weapons, those young guys got away with more than a fun experience to look back, retell, relive... Reminds me of NYC occupy protesters busting into McDonalds' buildings to take milk.<p>Play safe, everyone.<p>~·¤·~<p>Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta<p><a href="https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=sVt1Dy_LblQ&feature=share" rel="nofollow">https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=sVt1Dy_LblQ&feature=share</a>