The Personal Rocket Belt!

[Mr_Vindictive]

Sadly training from James Bond and Weng Weng is not included in the 250K price:

http://www.tecaeromex.com/ingles/RB-i.htm

[Andrew]

I don't know if I would have used those video files to promote the "product."  However, if these ever did get off the ground, I can see a lot of idiots hung up on power lines.  People have enough problems with roller skates and scooters.  Can you imagine if they had to deal with movement in three dimensions?

[Mr_Vindictive]

I hear you Andrew.

Not only that, but the belt only works for about 20 seconds.  Imagine how many people would use this, and not be careful to count the amount of time they've been airborne.  I can only imagine the broken bones and lawsuits due to some idiot falling out of the sky.

[Poogie]

Just wait another 50 years and people will be zipping around with no problem. Remember the first airplane? The problem is what's going to happen while they're trying?  People stuck in various places like trees, wires, and buildings waiting for removal. 

[Scott]

This device has been around for at least 30 years now. What was it called before. I think it was a Jet Pack? Maybe it works better now.

[Yaddo 42]

Well, they may be able to standardize a product that they can sell, can't really call it mass production, but it sounds like they still have the 20 second fight window, so I doubt they have improved that much. Just enough time to get high enough or go far enough to get yourself or someone else killed. Wonder if there's a failsafe that causes the unit to lower itself slowly to the ground, by say decreasing power at a steady rate as you get near the end of the fuel supply to avoid running out in midflight. Still in trouble that way too.

Power lines, trees, multistory buildings, cell towers, or just pure altittude + gravity = trouble waiting to happen. Can you imagine the stupid stuff people will try with these things to get attention or publicity. If they're serious maybe the price will deter the truly stupid and dangerous from buying them.

[Jim H]

I'll be happy when they get this up to lasting a couple hours.  Hell, even ten minutes.  As is..  Eh, I'd rather spend $250,000 buying several hangliders or a small used cessna or a house or something.

[Raffine]

Well, here it is 2007 fer chrissakes, and I for one am VERY ANNOYED we still don't have jet packs, personal helicopters, robot servants, day trips to the moon, colonies on Mars, laser-beam eyes, extraterrestial pals, and all the other cool stuff we were supposed to have in The Future.

About the only futuristic transportation around are those lousy Segways.





I have seen the future, and it is LAME.