1965: Jetpacks give a little lift
Ever since James Bond used a jetpack to escape the bad guys in 1965's "Thunderball," the idea of strapping on a rocket-powered backpack to soar up, up and away from the masses has been the dream of geeks everywhere. The latest attempt at backpack-powered flight, the Martin Jetpack, was unveiled at an air show in Wisconsin. The New Zealand-based manufacturer says the jetpack is theoretically capable of rising more than a mile into the air, but the pilot's feet never got more than three feet off the ground during its 45-second-long public debut.
© 2008 msnbc.com
Reproduced with permission of MSNBC, from Seven real-world technologies from Agent 007: Gadgets James Bond used that you can use, too by John Roach, November 10, 2008; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
You can read this story in its original location and view a photo of the Martin Jetpack at: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27648929/?pg=5#Tech_007Gadgets
Learn about other spy gadgets from previous James Bond movies that are available in the real world today.
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