Jetpack, bitches. Jetpack.

Submitted by Brhino on

I can't believe there isn't a thread about this yet.  Anyone know anything about the dude who jetpacked into the stadium?  Google search isn't turning up anything other than youtube videos.  Who was he?  What's the design from, was it a U of M project?  What's the propellent?  Someone must know!

ajcrmr

October 30th, 2011 at 1:56 AM ^

And the fuel is hydrogen peroxide. From <a href=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/fresh-faced-freshmen-michiga…
<br><blockquote>The game ball for the Michigan-Purdue game was delivered in a futuristic manner on Saturday: via rocket pack.
<br>Powered by a hydrogen peroxide jet pack strapped to his back, pilot Eric Scott flew from atop of southeast end of the Michigan Stadium to above the uprights in the north end zone before circling back around and delivering the ball at midfield.
<br>The scene seemed straight out of "The Jetsons" or "The Rocketeer," and Michigan fans received Scott with a rousing ovation.
<br>Scott is in the Guinness Book of World Records for speed in a rocket pack (68 mph) and distance traveled (1,500 feet) in a single flight.</blockquote>

WolverineHistorian

October 30th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^

I was there and it was pretty cool.  It took me a couple seconds to find him at first.  I kept looking on the field for him and didn't know he was taking off from the boxes. 

Really loud when he flew above us but I was too impressed to care about my ears.

jabberwock

October 30th, 2011 at 9:20 AM ^

that the jetpacks havent changed all that much since the 60s (remember Lost In Space®)

I also remember the jet pack intro to the 84 Olympics and always wished I was there to experience it.  Yesterday I finally got a chance to!

Very cool.

PM

October 30th, 2011 at 9:40 AM ^

It was very cool. I also enjoyed the very appropriate theme from A Space Odyssey 2001 by the MMB. (Elton John Rocket Man? we can do better...)

Section 1

October 30th, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^

they showed the view from the rocket man's onboard video camera. That was just about as cool as seeing him fly. And at that time the Stadium did play the original Elton John recording of "Rocket Man."

outwest

October 30th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^

I was watching on TV and when ESPN showed the last few seconds of the rockerman, the TV was paused and we all got a histoty lesson on the jet pack. Apparently my Grandfather when he was living back in Michigan was part of the original design of the first jet packs.  He was a tool and die maker and build all of the molds that eventually went into casting the parts for the jet packs.  He also worked on building the moldings for the Apollo missions.

It was definitely worth the 10 minutes delay to hear some cool piece of family history.

DrFeelGood

October 30th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^

That was about the coolest thing ever! I was at the game with my 14 year old son and he couldn't stop talking about it. My thought was, I hope the thing doesn't crash into the stands. Video on the scoreboard from the helmet cam was pretty sweet.