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Welcome to Jet-Pack.co.uk. My name is Richard Brown and my passion is engineering aerospace projects, mainly focused on Jet, Turbine & Rocket propulsion. I develop and use this technology in exciting & challenging non-commercial applications.
The primary purpose of this site is to cover my current project - to build and fly a Jetpack, but it also serves as a great opportunity to briefly cover all my previous projects. They have dominated my life since 1990 so I hope you'll take a look.
In late 2002 I started to cut the first metal in my quest to design, build, test & fly a credible jetpack. I had been thinking about this project for several years & slowly gathering any information relating to any previous attempts. This search focused on the awe inspiring Bell Rocket Belts & particularly the Bell / Williams Jet Belt. (See 'History' for more info on these) 
I spent a vast amount of time considering many different conceptual designs. Most were focused on solving the challenging and almost unique combination of engine requirements - Minimal Gyroscopic energy, minimum torque reaction, excellent power to weight ratio, good fuel efficiency, compact layout small enough for a man's back, preferably upward facing air intake & high positioned thrust outlets and above all "Helicopter like" reliability. Needless to say no "off the shelf" engine meets all this criteria, so after several attempts I have now developed my own purpose designed and built contra-rotating medium bypass turbo fan engine and associated Jetpack components.
I went into this knowing it would be my most challenging project yet, but I still underestimated just how difficult it would become. Were possible I am keen to share my findings, an operational JetPack is for me "The Holy Grail" but I know I'm not alone. For this reason and the obvious potential value unfortunately some detailed information will remain confidential.
UPDATES listed below for latest news!
UPDATE 22/2/08 See 'Research & Testing' for latest progress.
UPDATE 8/5/08 See 'Research & Testing'. |