Flying Marines? Watch as a Man Jetpacks onto a Speeding Ship

Overview

If you are thinking of an example of power with control, look no further than this video of flying marines donning jetpacks to board a speeding ship. With a precision only seen on screen by superheroes, the marine takes off from an inflatable boat in pursuit of HMS Tamar and makes a landing on the deck without breaking a sweat.

The science and other stuff to know

The jet suit has been developed by Gravity Industries, and the exercises demonstrated in the video from last spring were conducted to showcase the suits’ ability to assist flying marines to undertake ship raiding and boarding operations.

The jetpack is powered by five microturbine engines. One is mounted on the pilot’s back, while both arms have two engines each. In total, they produce about 1,050 horsepower, enabling a top speed of 56 mph (90 kph).

The prototype is still in the testing phase and is being analyzed by several militaries. However, the suits’ eventual commissioning for service could prove critical in search and rescue operations in hard-to-access terrains.

 Dive deeper

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