HISTORY
Flight
The Dream
For thousands of years people have dreamed of flying. For most of this time, the only term of reference was birds. Not surprisingly, myths and stories had us strapping wings or feathers to our arms and flapping!
Leonardo Da Vinci
15th Century
In the 15th century, Leonardo Da Vinci documented the first scientific study of flight and his vision of a flying machine. The understanding emerged that to fly, man would need some type of mechanical assistance.
The Wright Brothers
1903
Not until the early 20th century did technology and science have the tools to make flight a reality. The popular story of the Wright brothers, working alone in a small workshop, has captured the imagination of the world. The reality is that they spent years experimenting and documenting their progress in a way that any academic institution would approve. The Wright flyer famously photographed above was just the last in a long line of prototypes.
Skylark Of Space
1920s
As the general public became more technically educated, the idea of strapping feathers to your arms was replaced by a rocket or jet strapped to your back. This concept was so appealing and persuasive that it has been ingrained in our collective psyche. Ask any 5-year old boy what a flying jetpack is and he will draw one!
The “jetpack” first appeared in the science-fiction novel The Skylark of Space. Comic-book hero Buck Rogers soon adopted the contraption, and in 1928 it graced the cover of Amazing Stories.
American Military
1950s
The first serious attempts to build a Jetpack were instigated by the U.S. military in the 1950s. The idea was to build the ultimate "all terrain vehicle" to move military commanders around a battlefield.
The Rocket Bell
1961
Piloting Wendall Moore’s Bell Rocket Belt, Harold Graham made the first untethered flight on April 20, 1961, in Niagra Falls, New York. Later that year, Graham flew for President John F. Kennedy.
Thunderball
1965
When the Rocket Belt was introduced to the public in the James Bond film “Thunderball”, Bell was inundated with thousands of requests for sales and demonstrations, proving the marketability and promotional impact of the Jetpack. However, the Rocket Belt had one major problem, with a full tank of fuel it could only fly for 26 seconds! Thus the Bell Rocket Belt was destined to only be used in movies, TV programs and demonstrations.
Summer Olympics
1984
The jetpack’s largest audience ever was at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The pilot, Bill Suitor, has made more jetpack flights than anyone else in History.
RB2000
1995
The RB-2000 flew only once publicly before disappearing in a scandal of greed and infighting that left one of the device’s owners dead and the other two in prison. The belt is still missing. The RB2000 flew 50% longer than the 1960s technology belts. Pretty impressive - until you realize it just means you get to fly for a whole 30 seconds instead of a mere 20!
Highest Flight
2004
On April 20, 2004, stuntman Eric Scott soared 152 feet above London and claimed the Guinness world record for highest rocket-belt flight. (The title had previously been held by Bill Suitor).