紐西蘭開發商十三日表示，他們設計的個人飛行器「噴射背包」已取得飛航單位許可，即將進行飛行測試。
馬丁飛機公司執行董事寇克（Peter Coker）表示，取得執照是個人飛行器發展的重大里程碑。他說：「對我們來說，這是非常重要的一步，我們從一個夢想，走到現在即將商業化。」
這種個人飛行器是發明家馬丁（Glenn Martin）的心血結晶，他三十多年前自家車庫中展開噴射背包研發。
馬丁的靈感來自孩童時代電視節目《雷鳥神機隊》與《太空歷險記》，一九八○年代初期起，經多年研發，總算創造出適合老百姓日常使用、無須接受專業機師訓練即可駕駛的個人飛行器。
他設計的噴射背包主體為碳纖框架，連結一對包含推進風扇的圓筒，駕駛背對著站進框架中，繫好帶子，透過搖桿控制飛行器。
雖然噴射背包的概念非常簡單，《時代》雜誌還形容它不過是把兩個大型吹葉機焊接在一起，不過要把它微調成安全無虞又容易使用的飛機，還是走了段漫長的研發路。
寇克說，為軍方和消防隊員等緊急救難人員設計的專業版噴射背包，明年中應能交貨；鎖定普羅大眾的較陽春版則可望於後年上市。
這種個人飛行器預估售價在十五萬到二十五萬美元（約新台幣四百五十萬至七百五十萬元）間，寇克說，未來製造成本可能降低。
The Martin jetpack returns, ready for piloted test flights
Over in New Zealand, there's at least one jetpack with a flight permit. The new "P12" Martin Jetpack is a much more maneuverable design which also benefits from not-so-minor improvements in flight stability. It may have been these design improvements that lead New Zealand flight regulators to issue the device's permit.
The permit itself is quite limited. The jetpack may only fly at maximum altitudes of 20 feet above the ground or 25 feet over water. This is far below the jetpack's 5,000 foot height record — but then the only pilot at risk of injury during that flight was a crash test dummy. The jetpack may also only operate in uninhabited, rural areas for the time being.
All this regulation might be a temporary setback however, as Martin Aircraft Company's recently-appointed CEO Peter Coker has plans to offer a military and first-responder version of the vehicle for sale by next summer. Civilian models are to follow in late 2015. With plenty of testing yet to be done, we'll cross our fingers that Coker can stick to those timetables.
WHAT IS THE MARTIN JETPACK?
The Martin Jetpack is the world’s first practical jetpack. It consists of a purpose-built gasoline engine driving twin ducted fans which produce sufficient thrust to lift the aircraft and a pilot in vertical takeoff and landing, and enable sustained flight.
The Martin Jetpack is creating a new segment in the aviation and recreational vehicle markets. Initially designed with the leisure market in mind, commercial demand for the Martin Jetpack has seen the development programme focus on readying the product for use in a number of sectors including emergency response, defence and recreation, with numerous applications in each sector.
There is also an unmanned version planned which will lift more than most vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Martin Jetpack can take off from a small space, so is easy to deploy anywhere. It is easy to learn to fly, has an automated hover function, and is expected to be able to be flown in reasonable weather conditions.
Safety is very important to the Martin Aircraft Company. The dedicated engine is being designed to an aviation industry standard. In addition, the Martin Jetpack is designed to protect the pilot, including a ballistic parachute and a crumple undercarriage.
