Up, Up and Away

Glenn Martin’s jetpack has set a new flight record this month climbing at a rate of 8 feet per minute, reaching an altitude of 5ft, then soaring back to earth safely on an emergency parachute. “This successful test brings the future another step closer,” Martin said in a statement. “This test also validated our flight model, proved thrust to weight ratio and proved our ability to fly a jetpack as an unmanned aerial vehicle, which will be key to some of the Jetpack’s future emergency/search and rescue and military applications.” Christchurch-based Martin Aircraft Co. said the $1, jetpack was easy to fly and took about 2 hours to learn to operate.