Important Innovations

  Gravity Industries' Jet Pack Targets Ship Hijackers                Source:  Gravity Industries Jet Suit in Netherlands Test New Aviation Technology on the Cutting Edge of Saving Lives Seizing control back of a hijacked ship on the high seas is one of the most difficult challenges for global special forces in the fight against terrorism.  They either try rappelling down a rope from a hovering helicopter or use ladders on small boats at night to climb onboard.  Many times, these strategies loose the element of surprise.  Now from a former Royal Marine, Richard Browning who is the CEO of the UK's Gravity Industries, there is a third solution to taking control back from hijackers of a ship on the high seas.  Browning's Jet Suits have the potential to revolutionize counter-terrorism on land and sea. They have just been demonstrated to work by the Dutch Maritime Special Operations Forces in a simulation to board and save a commercial ship in the Netherlands.  It was a proof of

  New Form of Personal Air Mobility Source:  BMWi BMW's Electrified Wingsuit to Fly In BMW has designed, developed and tested the world's first all electric wing suit that enables a person to fly at speeds up to 186 mph. The revolutionary alternative means of travelling was developed by BMW in partnership with Designworks.  The flying suit began as a concept three years ago created by 33 year old Austrian Peter Salzman, who is a skydiver, paragliding instructor and wingsuit pilot.  BMW, Designworks and Salzman have taken the concept to new heights. The apparatus took three years to develop and is designed to showcase BMW's expertise in electrification. Successfully Tested Over the Alps The BMW wingsuit is electric powered with two chest mounted, carbon propellers delivering 20 horsepower for five minutes. There are two main parts.  It consists of a suit with wing like pieces of fabric and an electric drive unit that contains the propellers.  It weights about 28 pounds. The

  Second Recent Jet Pack Sighting Over LA                                                Source:  JetPack Aviation JetPack Aviation SPEEDER Gets Ready for Take-off Once again over Los Angeles, the sky offered an amazing sight of a pilot in a jetpack soaring 6,000 feet above the Earth.  It was the second similar sighting and the flights were apparently not authorized by the FAA.  Enter JetPack Aviation's flying motorcycle SPEEDER that's set to do its first test flight.  SPEEDER is the world's first jet powered, personal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flying motorcycle.  JetPack Aviation says it had nothing to do with the two mysterious, jetpack flights over LA. Technology Promise of SPEEDER JetPack says with the flip of a switch SPEEDER will be able to hit 300 mph in the air, carry 600 pounds and fly at an altitude of 15,000 feet. They say that's the potential of their SPEEDER flying motorcycle technology.  That would make a trip from LA to San Diego possible in 20

Jet Pack Aviation's Personal Air Mobility Source:  Jet Pack Aviation New Mode of Flying - SPEEDER Jet Pack Aviation of California is in the business of inventing jet packs as a new means of transportation for consumers and the military.  Their latest flying model - the Recreational SPEEDER, they say, is like riding a motorcycle in the sky.  It's the first turbine powered, fully stabilized VTOL (vertical take off and landing) personal aircraft ever built.  Because it is fully stabilized, very little training to fly it is required.  The vehicle is in the flight testing phase.  It is a brand new form of personal air mobility. Consumer and Military Versions of SPEEDER SPEEDER has a maximum speed of 150 mph, a range/endurance of 30 minutes and maximum thrust of 1200 pounds.  As it's a VTOL, it can take off and land almost anyplace and can fly up to 15,000 feet in altitude. There are two recreational versions.  An ultralight version that requires no pilot's

Your Personal Air Mobility Vehicle with No Emissions Source:  Alaka'i Technologies  Skai - Engineering and Avionics from Massachusetts & Design Input from BMW The inventors call this the fuel cell powered aircraft of the people to get above traffic jams.  The drone-like aircraft is hydrogen fuel cell powered and has zero emissions.  This model, pictured above, was just unveiled in southern California.  It's a collaboration between US based Alaka'i Technologies and BMW's design group in southern California.  It is sleek, powered by 6 rotors, a hover craft,  needs a lot of testing, but the inventors say it's practical and affordable.  For more, go to Important Innovations Collection: 1st Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft : People Mover - Air Mobility for the People Sleek Looking and Ready for Testing The world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered flyi...