By Alvin Soon
By Alvin Soon
IT’S 2018, WHERE’S MY JETPACK?
As it turns out, there are a few around you can actually buy and fly.
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THE WIRELESS PROBLEM
It’s one thing to lose the cord, but at the expense of increased battery usage and more things to charge.
THE STATE OF GAMING
Dell’s Rakesh Mandal talks to us about PC gaming and the challenges of becoming mainstream.
PICTURE GRAVITY INDUSTRIES
If you’ve ever wanted to fly like Iron Man, you’re in luck. London department store Selfridges is selling a working jet suit for £340,000.
Created by British inventor Richard Browning, Gravity Industries’ jet suit is composed of five jet engines mounted on the arms and back. It runs on jet fuel or diesel, packs 1,050 horsepower, and can dart up to 12,000 feet.
Depending on the weather, the jet suit can take off from three to nine minutes at a time. Browning broke a world record in 2017 by flying the suit at its top speed of 32mph.
You can see the jet suit in Selfridges, and take it for a spin in virtual reality. If you’re well heeled and adventurous, you can order your own custom suit, which comes complete with flying lessons.
MORE WAYS TO JET
Jetpacks don’t only exist in science fiction anymore. Here are other jetpacks zipping around the sky.
JETPACK AVIATION JB-10
The JB-10 is JetPack Aviation’s follow-up to the JB-9. Like Gravity Industries’ jet suit, the JB-10 is for sale, but not in stores. The pack lets you take off and land vertically, can reach speeds of more than 100mph, and can fly up to 12 minutes. An electric version is currently in the works.
YVES ROSSY’S JET WINGPACK
Developed by Swiss ex-military and commercial pilot Yves Rossy, the Jet Wingpack is less a jetpack and more of a miniature plane. The Wingpack can’t take off on its own; it has to be lifted into the air by plane or helicopter. But it can reach incredible speeds of up to 190mph.
PICTURE GRAVITY INDUSTRIES, JETPACK AVIATION, XDUBAI
