As usual, Old Media is picking up news stories from the Airventure show in Oshkosh, WI that they think are a scoop. I’ve got to tell you folks, it ain’t news if it’s been done before.
The so-called ‘Martin Jet-Pack’ that’s been a-buzz in the major news outlets isn’t a new idea (as many have claimed), nor is it the first time such an ultralight has been built, tested, and actually run (as many have also claimed).
A company named Millennium Jet created their SoloTrek XFV (eXo-skeletal Flying Vehicle) and managed to get one flying in the earlier part of this decade. They look like they are closely related. Except eight years ago SoloTrek made it happen, and their flight didn’t have two burly men holding the device stable. It hovered on it’s own with a limp tethering cord. Unfortunately, during one of the subsequent XFV flights, one of the tethering cables didn’t retract and got sucked into the ducted fans, destroying the fans and ultimately financially destroying the project.
I’d been following this flying machine story for years, and have kept tabs on Trek Aerospeace for quite some time. Their ‘Springtail’ is the derivation of the SoloTrek XFV work. Their site extensively lists specs and says they are waiting for funding.
I only mention this story to point out how Old Media (i.e. the major news outlets) constantly gets aviation stories wrong. They exaggerate crashes, foul up the news on breakthroughs, and when it comes to tech gadgets, spin the stories so hard that if you’re not careful, you could end up dizzy after reading them.
I do wish Martin and Trek Aerospace a lot of luck bringing their project to fruition. Do not think I’m trying to lessen the time, sweat, and energy that they’ve put into their project. But let the record show that this has been done before, and Martin isn’t the first. I’m not even sure Millenium Jet was the first, but leave it to Old Media to spin spin spin as they are so apt to do.
[...] Original post by flying in chicago [...]