Flights of Fancy

Christchurch engineer Glenn Martin, inventor of the Martin Jetpack, recently offered a test flight of the machine on eBay at a starting bid of US$30,000 for six flights. The bidding was open to anyone over 18 who held a current driver’s licence and weighs less than 90kg. The company says it is “a flight system where we can bring almost anybody in and, with just a small amount of training, they can be flying the Martin Jetpack with high levels of confidence and safety.” “This is your chance to make aviation history,” they add. “Your own ‘Wright brothers’ moment.” Christchurch strip club Calendar Girls won a TradeMe auction for a test flight bidding $5700. Martin Aircraft Company has signed a non-binding agreement with an unnamed foreign government to supply at least 500 jetpacks a year for search and rescue purposes.