Real jetpacks are finally here

​Patrick LaLiberte
Staff Writer

            It may have taken a while, but jetpacks are finally here. No, I’m not talking about those water-propelled jetpacks that have become popular in recent years; I’m talking about actual jet-engine powered jetpacks. The kind of jetpack that Boba Fett uses in Star Wars. Basically, this jetpack is the real deal. The jetpack was made by a company called Jetpack Aviation, and the chief executive of the company, David Mayman, had the honor of being the test pilot of the new invention. The newest model JB-10 can reach speeds of up to sixty mph, can go as high as 3 miles in the air, and can stay in the air for up to ten minutes. Last year, Mayman took the JB-9 model for a ride around the Statue of Liberty. Recently, the first test of the JB-10 took place over the coast of Monaco, and it looks pretty impressive. Jetpack Aviation says the jetpack will be for sale in about three years, and it will cost about $250,000. This price is unrealistic for most people, but as more and more companies start to make similar devices, including Martin Jetpack and Jetpack International, jetpacks will become more common and the price will drop over time.
            It is pretty crazy to think that real, jet-engine powered jetpacks are no longer science-fiction. These devices are becoming more and more advanced with every year that passes; who knows how long it will be until jetpacks are a common mode of transportation. Uses for jetpacks other than transportation include search and rescue, evacuation, troop positioning and other military purposes. Jetpacks are just one of many recent technological advancements that are making this world look more and more like a sci-fi movie. Perhaps real hoverboards will be the next new invention you will be reading about in a news headline. 

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