RGClark
Mathematician
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2010
- Messages
- 1,635
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Boeing will give $2 million to anyone who can build a functional jetpack.
Flying cars are so passé
By Andrew J. Hawkins@andyjayhawk Sep 26, 2017, 12:30pm EDT
https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/26/16362868/boeing-go-fly-prize-jetpack-competition
Deadline for submitting a proposal outline is April 4, 2018.
This should be doable with the micro turbojets available now, such as this:
http://www.pbsaerospace.com/our-products/tj-40-turbojet-engine
They have better than a 10 to 1 thrust to weight ratio, so can lift off with payload even in VTVL mode. A problem might be the fuel burn rate. At max thrust of 88 lbs, the burn rate is 42 oz per minute. Say you needed 3 to liftoff with an average man, with the weight of the engines, supporting structures and fuel. That's 120 oz per minute. Even a 10 minute flight would need 120*10 = 1,200 oz, or 75 pounds. That's alot of fuel to carry on your back. And that also subtracts from the payload that can be carried.
Bob Clark
Flying cars are so passé
By Andrew J. Hawkins@andyjayhawk Sep 26, 2017, 12:30pm EDT
https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/26/16362868/boeing-go-fly-prize-jetpack-competition
Deadline for submitting a proposal outline is April 4, 2018.
This should be doable with the micro turbojets available now, such as this:
http://www.pbsaerospace.com/our-products/tj-40-turbojet-engine
They have better than a 10 to 1 thrust to weight ratio, so can lift off with payload even in VTVL mode. A problem might be the fuel burn rate. At max thrust of 88 lbs, the burn rate is 42 oz per minute. Say you needed 3 to liftoff with an average man, with the weight of the engines, supporting structures and fuel. That's 120 oz per minute. Even a 10 minute flight would need 120*10 = 1,200 oz, or 75 pounds. That's alot of fuel to carry on your back. And that also subtracts from the payload that can be carried.
Bob Clark