THE Martin Jetpack, with which users can suit up and travel like Ironman, will make its China maiden flight in Shenzhen’s OCT Bay on Dec. 6.

    Liu Ruopeng, chairman of Shenzhen-based Kuang-Chi Science Ltd., the largest shareholder in the jet pack’s producer, said the company will hold the event to demonstrate the Martin Jetpack’s capabilities.

    The 120-kg jet pack, created by New Zealand’s Martin Aircraft Co., is said to be able to fly nonstop for 30 to 45 minutes at speeds between 70 and 80 kph at altitudes of up to 1,500 meters. It is powered by a gasoline engine and has two ducted fans.

    Liu, who introduced the fantasy-film-like technology at the WE tech conference held by Tencent Holdings Ltd. on Sunday, said the company hopes to make the device the world’s first commercialized personal aircraft.

    The company has been selling the jet pack on e-commerce site JD.com for 1.6 million yuan (US$251,840) since late July, and he said about 1,000 people in China have expressed interest in using the product.

    Liu said the product’s potential buyers include users in the emergency services sector, such as ambulance officers and firefighters, as well as flight enthusiasts.

    Liu, whose business is built on the potential of flight equipment, is a firm believer that the future of human beings lies in getting their feet off the ground.

    “Mega-cities are all gridlocked with traffic. Imagine on a rooftop one or two people wearing jet packs. They can simply fly from one building to another, saving all the time they would be trapped in terrible traffic,” he said. Hong Kong-listed Kuang-Chi Science became a major shareholder in Martin Aircraft after striking a deal to buy US$21 million worth of shares in its initial public offering on the Australian Security Exchange in February.

    According to Liu, the jet pack has customers worldwide, mainly from the United States, India, China and Eastern Europe. He expects to deliver the first units in the third quarter of next year.  (SD-Agencies)