The jet pack, whether it was real or fake, has been a part of popular culture since the beginnings of the space program. It has been featured on many science fiction TV shows and movies. Star Wars movies and TV programs are some of the most iconic movies and TV shows to feature jetpacks.
Amazing Stories magazine published a 1928 story featuring a man flying in a jet pack. This idea was popularized in science fiction novels, pulp magazines, and in the 1920s and 30s. Many science fiction novels and television shows featuring jetpacks were produced in the 1950s and 60s. Many of these stories were inspired from The Skylark of Space. This movie is about a man who piloted an airplane to orbit. A flying rucksack is used in other stories to transport one soldier to war. Bell Aerosystems developed the jetpack technology for US Space Program in the 1960s. Williams Research Corporation and Bell Aerosystems were the first to do so.
The Bell Aerosystems rocketpack, also known under the name Bell Rocket Belt, was a 2-jet pack that could propel a wearer upwards for 21 secs. The Rocket Belt was tested in the 1960s, and Bell Aerosystems concluded a contract with DARPA in 1965. It was made from hydrogen peroxide, pressurised nitrogen. It was a simple 2-jet pack that could easily be strapped to a person's back.
Bell Aerosystems also designed the Bell Pogo system to transport astronauts from Earth to the moon. The modified aircraft engine that powered the system was chosen for its power. It was originally developed for NASA, but was adopted by the US Army. It was eventually developed into the Bell Jet Flying Belt. The lightweight jetpack could travel up to seven meters and fly up 25 minutes at maximum altitude.
Bell Aerosystems and Williams Research Corporation also developed another jetpack, the Jet Flying Belt. It was intended to be powered with a turbojet engine. It had a rated thrust power of 1,900 Newtons. It was designed to lift a pilot up to seven metres and have a maximum speed of 30 mph.
Bell Aerosystems was the premier postwar jet age aviation company. The first company jetpack was the Bell Rocket Belt. The Jet Flying Belt was an extension of that design. The company developed the Jet Flying Belt after developing missile engine experiments. It was supported by $3 million from Advanced Research Projects Agency. The prototype was first tested in January 2005.
Williams Research Corporation in 1969 developed a turbojet engine that was used by Bell Aerosystems. The WR19 engine weighed 68 lbs and had a thrust rating of 1,900 Newtons. Bell specified the specifications of the engine.
Bell Aerosystems created the Bell Pogo, a system that was powered by a modified airplane engine. It was developed to be used for US astronauts on Mars. It was created for NASA and the US Army.