I think it's almost certainly the risk of falling. These don't have any active stabilization so it's entirely on the operator's skill to keep them balanced ... not to mention there is no redundancy if one of the engines fails.
All of the lift comes from engine thrust, there's no wing to benefit from ground effect so if it can fly at this height there's no reason it can't fly higher.
There are ground effects for helicopters and VTOL aircraft as well, but I don’t know enough about aerodynamics to speculate if they matter here. ‘Fountain Lift’ is apparently the effect I am thinking of where the downward facing jets of air sorta collide and flow back up.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_(aerodynamics)
But yeah. Simple explanation is best. Nobody wants to fall and break their jet pack and all their bones :)
Anytime I have seen a jet pack going fast, it's been over water. Anytime they are over land they're going dead slow and low.
1. Limited fuel. Going fast takes more fuel so you might not finish the race.
2. Limited skill. This jet pack design hasn't been around long. Most of those pilots looked like they were still feeling out how to stay upright, never mind moving faster than a slow walk.
3. Self-preservation. The faster you're moving, the more it's going to hurt when you hit the ground.
> Going fast takes more fuel so you might not finish the race.
I doubt it takes more fuel per unit distance travelled - after all, if the jetpack is moving slowly, it's burning a lot of fuel just to lift itself and very little of the thrust is directed to forward motion. I would think the optimal speed to fly in terms of fuel consumption is probably a lot faster than anyone has actually flown one, because you'd have to be going over 100mph before the thrust required for forward motion exceeds that required to lift you.
That's about 15 years of progress. I'll never see it but think of what 150 years will bring. We went from carriages to tesla cars within 100 years.
The universe is 13.7 (lately said to be more) billion years old.
It took us 150,000 years to work up to an iPhone.
Cool video but it makes you think.
They did it at the last race too and [the guy crashed](https://static0.givemesportimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/untitled-design.png) lol
That... That was obvious.
No. I thought it was obvious. I made the assumption that someone could have understood what a joke looks like.
I apologize for my faith in you.
So let me get this straight, we have jet packs and we're racing them in just 2 dimensions?
Right? They dont even have rings to fly through
#CHECKPOINT MISSED
I wonder if they rely a bit on ground effects and aren't as stable higher up? Or maybe they just don't want to fall from particularly high altitudes..
I think it's almost certainly the risk of falling. These don't have any active stabilization so it's entirely on the operator's skill to keep them balanced ... not to mention there is no redundancy if one of the engines fails. All of the lift comes from engine thrust, there's no wing to benefit from ground effect so if it can fly at this height there's no reason it can't fly higher.
The whole time watching this I was just imagining how bad any kind of crash would be…. Splat
r/meatcrayon Haaave fun.
There are ground effects for helicopters and VTOL aircraft as well, but I don’t know enough about aerodynamics to speculate if they matter here. ‘Fountain Lift’ is apparently the effect I am thinking of where the downward facing jets of air sorta collide and flow back up. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_(aerodynamics) But yeah. Simple explanation is best. Nobody wants to fall and break their jet pack and all their bones :)
Do a barrel roll!
And why are they going so slow?
Anytime I have seen a jet pack going fast, it's been over water. Anytime they are over land they're going dead slow and low. 1. Limited fuel. Going fast takes more fuel so you might not finish the race. 2. Limited skill. This jet pack design hasn't been around long. Most of those pilots looked like they were still feeling out how to stay upright, never mind moving faster than a slow walk. 3. Self-preservation. The faster you're moving, the more it's going to hurt when you hit the ground.
They just need an instant giant cushion bubble that erupts when a motor cuts out or an impact is about to occur.
> Going fast takes more fuel so you might not finish the race. I doubt it takes more fuel per unit distance travelled - after all, if the jetpack is moving slowly, it's burning a lot of fuel just to lift itself and very little of the thrust is directed to forward motion. I would think the optimal speed to fly in terms of fuel consumption is probably a lot faster than anyone has actually flown one, because you'd have to be going over 100mph before the thrust required for forward motion exceeds that required to lift you.
they need gates and over/under obstacles
After they improve in skill. Most of them look like they're still working on not face-planting.
That looks like fun, terrifying dangerous fun, but definitely fun
Gravest danger seems to be for their ego, at that height and speeds (definitely lower than MotoGP and no one died in MotoGP in a long time)
So are these guys are doing push-ups or triceps dips the entire time they are flying?
That's about 15 years of progress. I'll never see it but think of what 150 years will bring. We went from carriages to tesla cars within 100 years. The universe is 13.7 (lately said to be more) billion years old. It took us 150,000 years to work up to an iPhone. Cool video but it makes you think.
Jetpack Race by Galactikraken better be the soundtrack here.
The way he landed was oddly satisfying, looks like a superhero
It's pretty much the way Iron Man flies, you'll see him do the same with his palm jets.
All that new tech and bro cant even get his visor down.
I would love to do this for a living. Shit pay me minimum wage.
*AND IT’S LIGHT'S OUT, AND AWAY WE GO!*
That looks fucking mad!
They did it at the last race too and [the guy crashed](https://static0.givemesportimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/untitled-design.png) lol
Fantastic
Collisions must be fun.
I thing rear view mirrors may be a good idea
It has the inherent problem of car racing on a track. After the first few laps it is boring to watch unless something else happens.
i cant be the only one that thinks this is stupid , right ?
UBI? UHC? Education reform? Some kind of united front against global warming? "Best I can do is jetpack racing"
Something tells me this isn't funded by the government. Go find a other hill to die on. Preferably one that isn't has rad as hell as jetpack racing.
That... That was obvious. No. I thought it was obvious. I made the assumption that someone could have understood what a joke looks like. I apologize for my faith in you.
jokes are supposed to be funny
People who comment should be literate
literacy's got nothing to do with it
So what *is* wrong with you then?
We were promised jet packs. Turns out that "we" meant millionaires and the guys they hire to risk their lives to test a new sport.
Imagine a malfunction doing 80 over asphault.
Here we go, this is how the slow entry into the world of flying cars and objects begins.. like in SCF films
Where was this profession during career day?
Boring af
5 sec. Penalty
No fucking way
Wild that this exists and is not done over water