Gadgetizer.com » Aircraft Aviation

Martin Jetpack Goes For $86,000

H-Bag — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:15:44 +0000

Finally you can strap a jetpack to your back and zoom away with the first commerically available jetpack, the Martin.

The Martin Jetpack is driven by very large fans that are strapped to your back and give you 30 minutes of flight time in the air.

Running on gasoline as fuel with a two-liter V4 two-stroke engine, this jetpack can get you in the air, if you have $86,000 extra lying around that is.

HotSeat Flight Simulator

Jacob — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:30:10 +0000

If you want a more realistic experience when playing flight simulator games, you should check this amazing chair called HotSeat Flight Sim.

The system works with the most famous gaming devices (Wii, Xbox, PlayStation, PCs) and there are 3 models available that differ in quality and price. The top-notch HotSeat looks really good because it comes with a 23-inch LCD display and includes the Microsoft Flight Sim X game, the other models don’t have an own monitor so you have to use yours. On the other hand, all the models include a 5.1 surround sound system with a subwoofer, so the sound coming from the simulator will almost be equal to real life.

Prices can go from $900 for the basic version; $3,350 for the medium model that has a stand for a monitor (but no LCD included); $4,000 for the highest model. Visit HotSeat to order yours.

[Source: NYTimes]

MiG 21 USSR Military Aircraft For Sale On eBay

Jacob — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:57:35 +0000

If you ever wanted to buy a MiG 21 – this is your chance on eBay - the current highest bid is on $26,000.

This MiG 21 is demilitarized, which means that it doesn’t have any weapons and all the military stuff was removed, basically you can’t fly it but you put it on the garage and look at it every morning.

Technical features:

Origin: USSR
Type: multi-role fighter
Max Speed: 1,203 kt / 1,385 mph
Max Range: 1,160 km / 721 miles
Dimensions: span 7.15 m / 23 ft 5.5 in
Length: 15.76 m / 51 ft 8.5 in
Height: 4.10 m / 13 ft 5.4 in
Weight empty: 5,200 kg / 11,464 lb
Max. take-off: 22,925 lb / 10,400 kg

[Via: BornRich]

More Thrill Rides = Jet Powered Birdman Suit

Jacob — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 07:26:56 +0000

So if the previous video of a guy with a wing strapped to his back looked too much like a real airplane for you, just put on a birdman suit and strap a miniature jet engine to each of your legs. And yes, the blue hot water bottles are filled with jet fuel, so no smoking, ok?

[tags]jet pack, jet boots, birdman suit, parachute[/tags]

[via Youtube]

Human Jet Pack = The Ultimate Thrill Ride

Jacob — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 06:57:08 +0000

If a 300kph flight with a 6ft wing and jet pack strapped to your back tickles your fancy, watch the video below. F***ing Incredible! I SOOO want one of these.

I still think they should have used ‘Rocket Man’ as the theme song for the video though

[tags]jet man, human jet pack[/tags]

[Youtube Via The Warrior Forum]

Toy Fighter Jet Reaches 280MPH

Jacob — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 07:03:45 +0000

[Source: YouTube Via: Engadget]

GEN-H4 Personal Helicopter

Jacob — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:02:35 +0000

Hop over to Japan and get yourself one of these GEN-H4 personal helicopters and you’ll never have to worry about crowded subways and traffic gridlock again. Here are a few more details from Odd Things From Japan:

GEN Corporation developed GEN-H4, a compact single-seat helicopter. Equipped with a miniature engine of 125cc (8 horse power) and two propellers, it can reach a flying speed of 90 km (56 miles) per hour. At the moment GEN sells it at 3.6M yen and organizes demo flights as well as training courses (charged separately, of course).

Also, here’s the GEN-H4 web site link and a cool demonstration video of the ~~death trap~~ mini-chopper in action.

[Source: Gen-Corp.jp (Japanese) Via: Odd Things From Japan]

The MH-6 Ceiling Fan Mod

Jacob — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 18:27:10 +0000

Now here’s a cool mod and defintely one you don’t see everyday. Steven Yeh – Flickr ID radioflyer7 – is the man behind this project. As you can see from his Flickr pages, he seems like a bit of a helicopter nut.

Steven did this project last weekend, attaching a main-rotor-less mock OH-6/AH-6/MH-6 helo to his ceiling fan. It’s actually a three foot long GI Joe helicopter. Steven says weight and balance were a bit of an issue, so if you’re going try this at home, be aware so that the tailboom doesn’t get cuisinart’d in the process.

Steven wants to paint the ceiling fan blades army green to match but he says it probably won’t happen. Other planned enhancements include navigation and search lights, a working tail rotor, and engine sound effects.

Very cool! The Flickr page with details is here.

[via Engadget]

Plantraco’s Butterfly RC Flyer

Jacob — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 18:20:54 +0000

The dream of most young men…a RC airplane that can be flown inside the house is now a reality. Plantraco’s Butterfly Livingroom Flyer is the world’s lightest and smallest ready to fly R/C Model. At just 3.6g, this bad boy can fly missions against your siblings and pets indoors no matter what the weather is like outside!

It comes with a combination transmitter/charger that runs on 4 AA batteries and a 10 x 16 x 5-inch carrying case so you pack it up and take it anywhere. The cost is $239 USD and the manufacturer, Plantraco Hobbies, has got a couple of cool videos of the flyer in action at their web site here.

[via Engadget]

NASA’s Flying Space Balls

Jacob — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:41:04 +0000

Those wacky engineers and scientists at NASA have come up with another interesting little toy. The “Flying Eyeball” has been developed as a free-flying robotic inspection vehicle that will be used to assist astronauts on both the space shuttle and the International Space Station.

Called the Mini AERCam (Miniature Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic Camera), the unit uses pressurized xexon gas for propulsion and carries battery-powered cameras that will be used to perform inspections on the exteriors of the ISS and the shuttles.

Can you just imagine the explosion of voyeuristic web sites that would appear if they ever started selling these to the general public. Wow!

gizmag.com has got an excellent write-up here and you can find the actual NASA project web site here.