Daedalus Flight Pack

Richard Browning flying the "Daedalus" jet suit at Hurst Spit, Hampshire, England in 2019

The Daedalus Flight Pack is a jet suit capable of achieving flying ability, hovering and powered jumps.^[1] It was invented by British inventor, Richard Browning, an athlete and Royal Marine Reservist.^[2] The Daedalus is different from other manned portable flight packs in that it uses additional jets attached to the hands. These enable it to be directed by moving the arms.

History[]

Richard Browning first started work on the project in the year 2016.^[3] The suit has been likened to the comic character Iron Man. Browning formed his own company, Gravity, and used his own funding for development work.^[4] The first published test flight was revealed at the 2017 TED conference in Vancouver. Browning experimented with different numbers, configurations and arrays of jets, with varying degrees of success, before coming up with his current configuration.^[5] While initial funding came from Browning himself, since the success of the project, he has received promotional support from the Red Bull energy drink company.^[6]

In September 2020, it was reported that the Great North Air Ambulance service was considering using this jet suit to enable paramedics to reach casualties in the mountainous Lake District.^[7]

Technical specifications[]

The jets and powerpack are affixed to the wearer with metal frames. Current maximum flying time is about 10 minutes, and the system uses six micro-gas turbines and can achieve full flight. Projected initial cost for purchase is US$250,000, although this projection is expected to come down after full production.^[8] The flight pack can reach altitudes of 2000 feet, though its envisaged normal use would be traveling at only three or four metres above the ground.^[9][10] Browning says of the technology: “Our mission is to build an inspirational technology company by re-imagining the future of human flight and pioneering aeronautical innovation.”^[11] The flight pack incorporates a heads up display which displays for the user operating information, including top speed, fuel left, etc.

General[]

Gravity, Browning's company that produces the flight pack, have said that they will require the user to be vetted before use.^[12] The Daedalus flight pack broke a record for speed for a flight pack, awarded by the Guinness Book of Records.^[13] YouTuber Colin Furze -famous for his wacky inventions, projects, and functional interpretations of movie props, video game gadgets, and other fictional devices- was given the opportunity to learn how to fly the Gravity flight Pack. He made a video where he showed the process of learning to fly the pack, then strapped a Back to The Future Part II hoverboard onto his feet so he could "hoverboard".^[14]

References[]