Jetpack: the Hacksmiths Inspiration and Competition

Still think flying with a Jetpack is coming in the future or only possible in video games? You haven't been paying attention to what's been developing lately on the frontier of personal flying potential.
Redbull TV just put up an edit about Richard M. Browning who has his own jetpack system. Popular YouTuber James Hobson aka the Hacksmith has been building his own system for some time now. Both these guys are building an iron Man inspired flying systems that ate promising for the everyday flyer. The technology is still lacking in some ways so it will be some time till we are all flying about to work and other activities.

For someone like the Hacksmith, is a video like the one RedBull put up inspiring or seen as a threat? The Hacksmiths system he has been building uses high-powered fans to get propulsion called EDF's. Last we saw, he needed more funding to get the expensive hardware. He started a Gofund me and has raised over $3000. His plan now days is to build some EDF's for use in the project. Read more about the project, and help support James Hobson on GoFundMe. 

Watch one of the latest videos on the project from the Hacksmith.

(Link to playlist below)

EDM's are not cheap, about as expensive as Jet propulsion with different advantages and disadvantages. 

Richard M. Browning's system on RedBull uses jets to propel him off the ground. Watch the video from RedBull to gain some understanding about Richard and his thoughts on starting his project. There are 6 jets in total, 4 on the arms and 2 on the back. With both projects, the systems only give out a few minutes of flight time but the potential is there.

"We are going on our own 

journey to see what's possible with 

Mind, Body and Machine"

                                    Richard M. Browning

The other exciting Jetpack innovation that has been developed is much more expensive and possibly more practical but still suffers from low flight time.



Read about the filming of this video from Devin Supertramp, and watch the BTS of their experiences with this flying machine.

Jetpacks are real. Practical, not yet, but they are on their way.



Eric Higgins
Sheepish Animation




Watch The whole Building series from the Hacksmith.