Dubai Airshow: Futuristic jetpack set for sale next year

Lieutenant Colonel Osman Mohamed Ahli of the Dubai Civil Defence tries out a Martin Jetpack at the Dubai Airshow. Christopher Pike / The National

The futuristic jetpack that can fly higher than the Burj Khalifa is set to go on sale next year with a price tag of more than US$200,000.

And it runs on the same type of fuel used by your lawnmower.

The Martin Jetpack will have a top speed of 74km per hour and will be able to fly as high as 3,000 feet.

The New Zealand-based and Australia-listed company expects to go into commercial production as early as next year, according to chief executive Peter Coker.

“We’re still doing R&D but we are making sure will be able to deliver a commercial product in the second half of next year,” said Mr Coker on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow.

“The first audience will be first responders of emergency services. The second one will be around commercialisation to farming, oil and gas and mining and then the personal jetpack will come later.”

Officially designated as a microlight, it has a range of up to 50 kilometres and runs on petrol and two-stroke engine.

And if you run out of gas at 3,000ft, a ballistic balloon should get you back to solid ground.

“It will make this one of the safest aircraft in the world,” said Mr Coker.

The final price tag has not yet been decided but it is likely to cost between $200,000 and $250,000.

Last week Australian jetpack entrepreneur David Mayman fulfilled a lifelong dream when he flew around the Statue of Liberty in New York.

His company, called JetPack Aviation also plans to commercialise jetpack travel.

“We have just proved that personal flight is a reality, it’s here and we will stay at the forefront of this,” said Mr Mayman.

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