Lift off… it’s the flier and rescue service!
IT’S 50 years since jetpacks came to the attention of the world – courtesy of James Bond. Today they’re still somewhat obscure, but it’s a different story in Dubai.
Firefighters there have just put in an order for 20 Martin Aircraft jetpacks and simulators to assist in emergencies on skyscrapers.
The jetpacks cost £165,000 each and are intended to go to tall buildings out of the reach of ladders to assess a situation. The city is home to the world’s tallest skyscraper – the 2,700ft Burj Khalifa.
The jet can fly at 45mph and gain altitude of more than 3,000ft. It has a parachute for safety and can carry up to 18 stone 13lb.
Sean Connery used a similar device in 1965 film Thunderball to escape the villains.
A Dubai civil defence spokesman said: ‘The aircraft can go into confined spaces. We are going to modify them with thermal imaging cameras.’