Innovation of the week: The world's first commercial jetpack

Strapping on a personal jetpack is no longer the stuff of science fiction, said Samuel Gibbs at The Guardian. The Martin Jetpack, which uses fans instead of the high-powered rockets of comic books and movies, will become the world's first commercial jetpack when it goes on sale next year after 35 years in development.

The carbon fiber and aluminum jetpack can carry one passenger weighing up to 265 pounds more than 3,000 feet in the air. The gasoline-powered device can take off and land vertically, "meaning rooftops, gardens, and parking lots are all viable launchpads." Despite its $150,000 price tag, the Martin Jetpack isn't being marketed as an "expensive toy," but as a device for first-responders. Martin Aircraft hopes its jetpack's ability to land in tight, hard-to-reach spaces will make it a vital tool for emergency services.

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