The Martin Jetpack was a single-person aircraft under development. Despite its name, it did not use a jet pack as such, but ducted fans for lift. Martin Aircraft Company of New Zealand developed it, and they unveiled it on 29 July 2008, at the Experimental Aircraft Association's 2008 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US. The US Federal Aviation Administration classified it as an experimental ultralight airplane. It used a gasoline engine with two ducted fans to provide lift. It was specified to have a maximum speed of, a flight ceiling of, a range of and endurance of about 28 minutes flight. Empty weight was. The first customers were said to be first responders.
History
The Martin Jetpack has been under development for over 30 years. Glenn Neal Martin started work on it in his Christchurch garage in the 1980s. New Zealand aviation regulatory authorities approved the Martin Jetpack for a limited set of manned flight tests in 2013. , the price of the commercial production units is expected to be and sell in the US for –350,000 subject to local tax and customization requirements. Glenn Martin suddenly resigned on 4 June 2015 after investing 30 years in the product. In August 2016, CEO Pete Coker was replaced by the former CFO James West. The company closed its doors in 2019, with KuangChi Science, Martin Aircraft's 52% majority shareholder, now looking for a buyer for the few remaining assets.
Description
The Martin Jetpack is a small VTOL device with two ducted fans that provide lift and a V4 piston gasoline engine. Although its pilot straps onto it and does not sit, the device cannot be classed as a backpack device because it is too large to be worn while walking. However, the Martin Jetpack does not meet the Federal Aviation Administration's classification of an ultralight aircraft: it meets weight and fuel restrictions, but it cannot meet the power-off stall speed requirement. The intention is to create a specific classification for the jetpack it uses the same petrol used in cars, is relatively easy to fly, and is cheaper to maintain and operate than other ultralight aircraft. Most helicopters require a tail rotor to counteract the rotor torque, which, along with the articulated head complicate flying, construction, and maintenance enormously. The Martin Jetpack is designed to be torque neutral it has no tail rotor, no collective, no articulating or foot pedals and this design simplifies flying dramatically. Pitch, roll and yaw are controlled by one hand, height by the other.
Version P12
A further version of the Martin Jetpack has been built to prepare for manned flight testing. The new prototype, with the descriptor P12, has several design improvements over earlier versions, including lowering the position of the Martin Jetpack's ducts, which has reportedly resulted in much better maneuverability. It also has a fully integrated fly by wire system. P12 will be developed into a First Responder production model. A lighter personal jetpack should be available in 2017.
Safety features
In order to enhance safety, the finished product will feature a low opening ballistic parachute along with carbon fibre landing gear and pilot module.
Flight testing
On 29 May 2011, the Martin Jetpack successfully completed a remotely controlled unmanned test flight to above sea level, and carried out a successful test of its ballistic parachute. A second version, designated prototype P12, of the Martin Jetpack received approval from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority to begin manned flight testing in August 2013. According to an investor update from August 2016, additional funding will be required to complete the certification process.
Potential markets
In 2015, the company as part of its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange stated that the jetpack could be available on the market as in late 2016; it was expected to sell for approximately. However, the delivery date has again been postponed. Governments are expected to be a large share of initial consumers. The first production model aimed at military and first responder emergency crews, such as police, firefighters, and medical personnel, enabling them to have faster response times, to reach areas inaccessible by road, and to get to the top of tall buildings quickly. Interested buyers include the government of the United Arab Emirates; it was reported in November 2015 that Dubai had placed an initial order for twenty units, simulators, and training, for delivery in 2016.
