All great points
robbo24 &
Engr
These jetpacks definitely fly, absolutely no question about that, with the various highly qualified pilot(s) willing to risk their life(s) with their various manned and unmanned demonstration(s). The fly-by-wire computer also worked well, as demonstrated when the pilot(s) took both hands off the joysticks to enthusiastically wave to the crowds.
Absolutely, helicopters are restricted to where they can land. Having worked on them for a number of years, I often had to rappel through dense foilage to reach persons in need for urgent attention. An interesting exercise when standing on the skid, just centimeters from the excruciatingly noisy turbine engine and watching the odd small tree branch being chopped by the sharp rotor blades. There definitely were occasions when a jetpack would have been able to descent through and out of the forrest canopies.
Having the rotating blades contained in a jetpack is another advantage. I remember a dog once running up to our helicopter, trying to jump up at the spinning tail rotor. There have also been quite a few instances when people were killed or badly injured by this almost invisible
tail rotor. However there are now helicopters that have minimised this risk by the introduction of a ducted fan, rather than an un-ducted fan. This design is referred to as a
fantail, as used in the Eurocopter. Placing the fan within a duct shields the tail rotor from damage, shields ground crews from the hazard of a spinning rotor, and is much quieter than a conventional tail rotor. The ducted fan uses shorter and more numerous blades, but otherwise it is very similar to a conventional tail rotor:
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Having read the latest MJP newsletter, I am now also excited about the following items:
1) Extra revenue by being certified by the NZ CAA to
training pilots for unmanned Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
2)
Current negotiatiations with First Responder service providers such as Fire, Police & Ambulance.
3) CEO Mr. Peter Coker's statement:
"It is absolutely essential we start delivering the Martin Jetpack to commercial customers this current year (2016)"
4) CEO Mr. Peter Coker's acknowledgement:
"I know this must be frustrating to shareholders and may seem as if we are not doing anything here but rest assured much work is going on behind the scenes with those that have already been announced".
5) CEO Mr. Peter Coker's advice:
"Our present planning is that the [US based] Avwatch will be one of the early commercial recipients of the Martin Jetpack during 2016".
And
Bull, regarding your shareholder related question earlier on:
"Mr. Glen Martin apparently holds 9.7 % of MJP shares, which are escrowed following the IPO and ASX listing until February 2017". Not indicating that he might, or might not, be waiting to sell.
