NZ jetpack prototype moves ahead

摘要

From an idea formed in 1981, the personal jetpack is nearing commercialisation 33 years later. Founding director of Martin Aircraft and developer of the Martin jetpack concept Glenn Martin said the P12 prototype can remain airborne for around 30 minutes, fly at 74km/h and has a maximum flight ceiling of at least 3000ft. It is the twelfth jetpack prototype developed by the New Zealand aviation company, with the next model set for commercialisation. Martin Aircraft, recently announced a pre-initial public offering (IPO) opportunity in Sydney to raise capital for the commercialisation phase to take the jetpack to market in 2016. Newly appointed director of engineering Ulrich Bergler said that the company was still in a capital raising phase targeting Australia, and that the jetpack "continues to attract substantial interest from all angles including potential investors".