Back in the middle of the last century, the first projects of the so-called. jetpacks and other individual aircraft, but so far this technique has not gone into series and has not found widespread use. Nevertheless, new projects of this kind appear with enviable regularity, and their creators are trying to find support from the military departments. It is curious that several modern developments are already supported by the armies of different countries. A number of other creators of such aircraft are counting on receiving it in the near future.
It should be recalled that various projects for jetpacks and other vehicles of the past were also developed with the assistance of the armies - first of all, the US armed forces. And now the Pentagon is interested in another bold proposal and even acted as a customer within the framework of one of the new programs. France is also taking real action to develop individual aircraft.
JB11 for the Pentagon
Since 2016, the American company JetPack Aviation David Meiman has been working on a promising jetpack. In the previous period, the company created several samples of individual aircraft of one kind or another. Its development interested the American military, which led to the emergence of a state order. In 2016, the US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM NSWC) was commissioned by JetPack Aviation to develop a new jetpack according to its own requirements.
General view of the product JP11
The military wants to get a compact vehicle capable of transporting a fighter with weapons and other equipment by air over short distances. The product must have limited dimensions and weight, allowing it to be transported by a serviceman. The required flight performance is also specified.
In accordance with the wishes of the NSWC, a jetpack called the JB11 JetPack was developed. It is based on the developments on the previous projects of the company D. Meiman, but also introduced new ideas. In particular, a different power plant architecture and revised controls are used. All this led to an increase in basic characteristics, including flight duration and carrying capacity.
The JB11 backpack is built according to the traditional scheme for such aircraft. There is a main frame to which the harness and controls are attached at the front. Engines are placed on the sides, and certain structural elements are installed inside and behind the frame, including an increased capacity fuel tank.
Test Jetpack
The power plant is built on the basis of six self-developed turbojet engines with a thrust of 60 kg (total 240 kg). The motors are rigidly fixed and cannot move. Existing engines must use kerosene or diesel fuel. In the future, it is planned to develop motors on hydrogen fuel. With optimal fuel consumption indicators, the flight duration (under normal load) is up to 10 minutes.
The knapsack is controlled by two consoles placed in front of the pilot on the armrests. A semi-automatic control principle has been implemented. The pilot determines the direction of flight, speed, maneuvers, etc., and his commands are processed and converted in a digital computing unit responsible for direct control of the units. Stabilization and maneuvering are carried out by means of a synchronous or differentiated change in the thrust of the engines.
The developers claim that the automation is capable of ensuring a smooth flight, as well as compensating for the failure of several engines and safely lowering the aircraft to the ground. In case of more serious accidents, a parachute is provided. Its release is automated; the pilot escapes with his knapsack.
One of the control panels
The dry weight of the JP11 jetpack is specified at 115 lb (52 kg). It is capable of carrying a pilot and payload weighing no more than 230 lb (104 kg). If these conditions are met, the flight speed exceeds 180-190 km / h, the range is limited by the flight mode and fuel consumption. The theoretical ceiling exceeds 4500 m. The cost in the existing configuration is 340 thousand dollars.
It is assumed that with such characteristics, the new development of JetPack Aviation will allow you to quickly transfer soldiers to a given area in the absence of other acceptable routes. During the flight, the pilot will be able to move in the desired direction, hover, change altitude and perform simple maneuvers.
To date, the development company has taken the JP11 JetPack product for testing. The first flights were carried out incompletely and on a leash. Subsequently, the composition of the units was brought to the design level, which made it possible to start free flights. It is not specified how soon the refinement will be completed and the backpacks will be handed over to the military for their own tests.
Tests: a moment before take off
US SOCOM, commissioned by which a promising project was created, has not yet announced its plans for new technology. Apparently, in the near future, army specialists will have to study the presented samples and draw conclusions. It is required to determine the real characteristics and capabilities, as well as to analyze hypothetical ways of using jetpacks in real operations and their effectiveness.
For obvious reasons, US Special Operations Command has so far refrained from commenting on the JP11 product. The development company, in turn, speaks of the great future of the project and the entire direction. In particular, it is argued that interest in jetpacks is already showing not only SOCOM, but also other structures of the Pentagon. Whether this interest will lead to real contracts is a big question.
JP11 JetPack in flight
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the very fact of ordering a jetpack by an official structure attracts attention and can speak volumes. Apparently, the American army is again interested in individual aircraft and is ready to consider promising models created on the basis of existing technologies. The next "test" has some chances of success, but is not insured against failure.
Flyboard Air for the French Army
At the end of last year, the French military department supported a domestic company dealing with the subject of individual aircraft. At the end of November, demonstration flights took place using the new model for military purposes, after which an appropriate decision was made. The Department of Defense is now supporting a private company to continue developing core technologies for promising projects.
Zapata Flyboard Air take off
We are talking about the aircraft Flyboard Air from Zapata. This product is a compact platform with a power plant and other devices capable of lifting one person and a small load into the air. Already in its existing form, the Flyboard Air is considered by the developer as a promising vehicle for special forces or the army as a whole. With the help of such products, soldiers will be able to quickly move over the battlefield or beyond.
The Flyboard Air device is designed as a compact platform, in the center of which there is a block of four low-power turbojet engines. Control equipment is located next to them. On the sides of the main propulsion system are the pilot's harness. Two more engines are placed on the sides of the platform. A simple chassis in the form of four fixed supports is provided on the bottom.
The pilot is asked to stand on the platform. It is secured in its place with the help of the leg straps. For safety during flights, test pilots use backpack parachutes. Control is carried out using a remote control, which has all the necessary organs. As with the JetPack Aviation jetpack, the pilot's commands must be processed by the onboard computer and translated into control signals for the engines. Flight control and balancing are also carried out by changing the thrust of the engines in different combinations.
The device is in hover mode
In its current form, the individual Zapata Flyboard Air weighs about 25 kg and can carry loads up to 100 km. The maximum flight speed reaches 140 km / h. The ceiling has been reached 150 m, the flight duration is 6 minutes. The development company plans to develop the existing design, resulting in a dramatic increase in performance. They are going to increase the speed to 200 km / h, the ceiling to 3000 m, and the flight duration to half an hour. The payload capacity of the improved platform will double.
The Zapata company has taken its individual aircraft for testing a long time ago and is now promoting it on the market. The main customers are civil structures and extreme sportsmen. At the same time, the company intends to compete for contracts with the military department. For this purpose, demonstration events were organized last year, in which the Flyboard Air apparatus was used.
Energetic maneuvering
On November 24 last year, French Special Operations Command (COS) assessed the real capabilities of the Flyboard Air product as part of the Defense Innovation Forum. In the presence of the country's top leadership, a mock battle took place using standard samples and new equipment. During the demonstration event, special forces fighters disembarked from the boat on the river pier and freed the hostages. At this time in the air was a commando with an aircraft Flyboard Air. He provided aerial surveillance and cover for the main group.
Defense Secretary Florence Parley attended the demonstration. She noted that products like the Zapata Flyboard Air could be useful to COS units. It soon became known that the project could be developed with government support. In December, Zapata was added to the DGA's RAPID program. She relies on a grant for the development of technologies and the creation of new samples.
Government funding is intended to improve existing technologies and find new solutions. The main goal so far is to improve basic flight performance, such as flight duration or payload. An additional goal of the program will be the creation of new compact turbojet engines with reduced noise. The search for improved engine technologies is being carried out as part of a separate sub-project, Turbine Z Air. All these works are allocated two years.
Flyboard Air pilot picks up speed
Probably, a deeply modernized version of the Flyboard Air aircraft, capable of taking more cargo, flying longer and farther, and also making less noise, will have some chances to enter service with French special forces. In COS units or other structures of the French armed forces, such products can be used as light vehicles providing high mobility of fighters. They can be used to quickly deliver soldiers to the desired area or for urgent evacuation.
The Zapata Flyboard Air project is already well known to the public, and recently the French command got acquainted with this aircraft in detail. Based on the results of the study and demonstrations, a grant was issued for further work. It is possible that the existing Flyboard Air product will not enter service in France, but its improved version with increased characteristics may become the subject of a COS order.
Transport of the future?
It should be noted that JetPack Aviation and Zapata are not the only creators of modern jetpacks or other individual aircraft. Similar devices are being developed by other organizations, but it is the projects of the American and French firms that are currently the most successful in the context of military use.
Flyboard Air as a vehicle for a submachine gunner
While other developers are only demonstrating their projects and trying to attract the attention of the armies, American and French specialists have already been able to enlist the support of the military departments. The American company JetPack Aviation is developing its new project for the US SOCOM, and the French Zapata received a grant from the DGA to further develop the existing aircraft. Their competitors in the field of individual aircraft cannot yet boast of such success.
The result of ongoing work on both sides of the Atlantic should be two improved aircraft in a few years. The American special forces will be offered an apparatus in the form of a jetpack, and their French counterparts will be offered a platform with engines. In the future, two samples will have to pass factory and military tests, according to the results of which the armies will be able to draw conclusions. What these conclusions will be, and what awaits the new technique - time will tell. Despite all the efforts of a number of enterprises, it is too early to talk about the beginning of the era of jetpacks in the armies.
