The Martin Aircraft Company of Christchurch recently announced its intention to open the world’s first tourism operation where people can fly a Martin Jetpack.

It is now seeking an experienced tourism sector operator to partner with on the development of a Jetpack Experience business in New Zealand in 2010.

The Martin Jetpack was a highlight of last year’s annual EAA air show Oshkosh in Wisconsin. Produced by Martin Aircraft Company, the practical jetpack can fly far longer than the 1950′s technology “rocket belts”.

“The response was enormous,” says Glenn Martin, the company’s founder. “We were on 960 TV channels in the first day, and were swamped with enquiries and requests for demonstrations.”

One of the most asked questions was “When can I have a flight?”

“I went back to New Zealand and decided that if we can make the world’s first practical jetpack, we can make a version for people to be able to learn to fly in a few minutes”.

The control and training system was rebuilt from the ground up, and a wide range of people were brought in to try it out, ranging from military-qualified pilots to complete novices.

“The result is a flight system where we can bring almost anybody in and with just a small amount of training they can be flying the Martin Jetpack with high levels of confidence and safety.”

Martin Aircraft Company’s Chief Executive Richard Lauder says “this development of the training system based on computer control and stabilisation of the Martin Jetpack creates the opportunity for us to provide test flights of the jetpack for anyone who has dreamt of flying”.

“These flights will be true unassisted flying, but the on board computer will limit the Jetpack’s performance to keep pilots safe. I know, I’ve tried it” says Lauder.
Lauder acknowledges that while the company has excellent engineering and technical capability, the Jetpack Experience business would benefit from a partner with know-how in an adventure tourism business.

So they are now looking for an experienced operator to take a stake in the New Zealand Jetpack Experience business which aims to have 3 sites up and running within 2 years, as capital costs are relatively small.

ENDS.