ThunderPack TP-R2G2: Up, Up, and Away!

You, too, can own your very own jet pack, perfect for impressing your friends and terrifying the neighbors (although it'll only keep you aloft for about a minute or so).

Available later this year for the not-so-bargain price of $98,000, the ThunderPack TP-R2G2 jet pack promises to propel you through the air for an estimated 72 seconds—a  three-fold increase over existing jetpacks, which only manage about 22 seconds of flght, according to manufacturer ThunderBolt Aerosystems. Your flight may be short, but you'll cover a decent amount of ground: about 3,600 feet, to be exact, at speeds of up to 75 MPH.

The makers of the ThunderPack say the TP-R2G2 could be useful for military missions, disaster relief, the border patrol, and even commuting (someone call the FAA), although as the ThunderBolt Web site points out, jet packs often gets the most mileage out of promotional appearances: you know, like landing a guy at the 50-yard line before the Super Bowl, making a splash at a rock concert, or making a cameo in a James Bond movie (just like in "Thunderball"). Also, before you trade in your hybrid car for a ThunderPack, keep in mind that burning through about 100 pounds of hydrogen peroxide and diesel in a minute can't be cheap.

Related:
Press release [PR Newswire]