# A Jetpack You Might Someday Actually Use **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941 "2009-05-01T05:14:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/1 "2009-05-01T05:14:22Z")
The [JetLev](http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/04/28/jetlev-a-jetpack-you.html). “Crashes (probably) won’t kill you.” ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/2 "2009-05-01T05:45:39Z")
Cool, but use it to go where? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/3 "2009-05-01T05:48:11Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Cool, but use it to go where? Recreational device, I think. Like a jet ski or a surf board. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/4 "2009-05-01T14:33:52Z")
Ok, I geddit…the floating island sucks in water, pumps it through that fire hose, and it gets sprayed through the nozzles, pushing you upward. The fire hose is stiff from all the water, so it acts as a support as well. My only questions is, how is it powered? I guess the island has a gas-powered motor on it? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/5 "2009-05-01T15:23:54Z")
I want to try this so much. I don’t care if they charge a hundred bucks an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/6 "2009-05-01T16:11:30Z")
Yes, but… I’m not sure how well I could swim with such a a heavy apparatus strapped to my back. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/7 "2009-05-01T17:01:18Z")
It really looks like a blast so I ruined it by checking out their website. They don’t expect certification and roll-out until September (and they’ll cost $129,000) so I’ll probably have to wait until spring for anyone to have it. ☹ > [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > My only questions is, how is it powered? I guess the island has a gas-powered motor on it? [jetlev.com](http://jetlev.com) says its a four-stroke 155hp or 215hp engine depending on the model. Not surprisingly, that’s similiar to mid-high level Jet Skis. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/8 "2009-05-01T17:29:40Z")
> [@Alienhand](#): > > [jetlev.com](http://jetlev.com) says its a four-stroke 155hp or 215hp engine depending on the model. Not surprisingly, that’s similiar to mid-high level Jet Skis. I wouldn’t be surprised if the island thing -is- a jetski. They just took off the top, redirected the output, and capped it off. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jetpack-you-might-someday-actually-use/494941/9 "2009-05-01T17:52:35Z")
I expect someone to try crossing the Atlantic with this in fairly short order.