In 2017, British inventor, Richard Browning set a new record for fastest flight in a body controlled jet engine powered suit. Using an Iron Man-like jet suit he managed to achieve a speed of over 32 mph over the waters of Lagoona Park in Reading, UK.
This effort set a new flight record which made it into theGuinness World Recordsand yet, it is just one in a long line of experiments by mankind into achieving perfect personal flight. This passion for jetpacks and suit powered flight started off in the world of Science Fiction but quickly became a dangerous, if enthralling reality.
From the pages of science fiction to the modern day we look back at the history of man’s quest for personal flight over the last 70 years. Come with us as we blast into the sky and into the hearts and minds of inventors everywhere.
The Skylark of Space (1928)
1928 is likely the first year that man dreamt of powered flight and put pen to paper to create the vision. In a science fiction novel entitled “The Skylark of Space” writer Edward E. Smith envisions a future in space where man discovers a new element which allows him to achieve the wonder of flight.
This vision is seen on the cover of a magazine called “Amazing Stories” from August 1928 which also included works from H.G. Wells. Though perhaps not the first time mankind had thought of flight, it certainly would be the inspiration for future jetpack based flight.
King of the Rocket Men (1949)
A few years after The Skylark of Space, a jetpack powered hero made his way onto the silver screen in the form of “Rocket Man”.
A scientist created a sonic-powered rocket backpack, jacket and helmet to help him battle the evil villain Dr. Vulcan. The escapades of the Rocket Man were released in 12 chapters in 1949 and would go on to inspire the minds of future generations.
Thunderball (1965)
In the 1960’s, fiction and reality collided, when Bell Aerosystems “Rocket Belt” was used by James Bond in Thunderball. After Bond assassinates Jacques Bouvar he uses the jetpack to make his escape with a short flight over the top of a château and out of the reach of the enemy.
A fantastic use of a jetpack that thrilled the masses, but the rocket belt itself actually had a very limited use as it was only capable of around 21 seconds of flight. This early jetpack system also cost over $200,000 to develop and ended up being cancelled as a project due to costs skyrocketing.
Rocketeer (1982)
Jetpacks would continue to be popularised on the big screen and in science fiction and in 1982, the Rocketeer proved such a popular comic book series that it also made its way into video games and movies.
De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle (1955)
Personal flight hasn’t always been about jetpacks. Over the years, there have been plenty of different designs with varying technologies all intended to help man to take to the skies. Though these forms of transport might have their origins in science fiction, science fact is also pretty interesting.
In 1954, the HZ-1 Aerocycle was created for the US Army as a one-man “personal helicopter” that was intended to be easily flown by infantrymen as an aerial reconnaissance vehicle. Unsurprisingly though, it never made it to the battlefield as a number of crashes caused the project to be abandoned. We’re not surprised as it looks pretty dangerous.
The design was pretty interesting though. Flight was intended to last for up to 40 minutes after just 20 minutes training on how to fly the vehicle. The HZ-1 Aerocycle could reach speeds of 75 mph with a 15-mile range and a flight ceiling of 5,000 feet.
Jetvest (1957)
During the years that followed WWII, Thomas T. Moore worked alongside Dr. Werhner von Braun. While the latter scientist was working on ways to send a man to the moon in a rocket ship, the former was trying to fathom the technology to apply rockets to a man for personal flight.
With a small amount of funding from the army, he managed to create working prototype known as the “Jetvest” and flew it for the first time in 1952. Funds, unfortunately, dried up shortly afterwards and the project had to be abandoned.
Nevertheless, you may see it being wonderfully modelled here by David H. Ward.
Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee (1957)
The Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee was another design of personal flight vehicle that used rotors to power upward flight.
It was unique in many ways, not least of which was the directional control powered by the pilot their shifting body-weight. The original concept for this design started life in the 1940’s but would not take flight until 1955. Various prototypes were created but never put into full production.
Project Grasshopper Jump Belt (1958)
The Rocket Belt came about as a US Army project aimed at allowing soldiers to be able to leap over small distances and move at faster speeds to get them out of harm’s way.
In 1958, the Jumpbelt was demonstrated at Fort Benning and allowed a person to be able to jump 20 feet into the air and dash 300 feet in just nine seconds. Though not supporting actual flight, the jumpbelt project was certainly an interesting start into personal transport.
Bell Aerosystems Rocket Belt (1961)
If this one looks familiar it’s because it’s the early prototype of the version used by James Bond in “Thunderball”.
Development began in the 1950’s but it wasn’t until 1961 that it was demonstrated burning five gallons of fuel for just 21 seconds of flight. Alas, the design didn’t impress and it was abandoned until being revived by a more efficient and manageable design in the 1990’s.
Bell Pogo (1968)
The Bell Aerosystems Company continued building different models of jetpacks in later years and the Bell Pogo system was tested in the years between 1967 and 1969.
This model was originally developed for NASA and was intended as a means of transport during the Apollo missions to allow astronauts to get about on the moon. NASA decided that the Rover car was a safer option and the Bell Pogo was instead adopted by the US Army.
