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 also been featured in many science fiction 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 story in 1928 that featured a man riding a jetpack. This idea would become popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and was later popularized in science fiction novels and pulp magazines. Many science fiction novels, TV shows and movies featuring jetpacks were created in the 1950s/60s. These stories were inspired by The Skylark of Space a movie about an astronaut who launched a rocket into space. Other stories would show a single soldier being transported to battle by a flying rucksack. Bell Aerosystems (now Williams Research Corporation) developed jetpack technology to support the US space program in the 1960s.
The Bell Aerosystems jetpack was known as the Bell Rocket Belt and was a two-jet pack, which could propel the wearer upwards for 21 seconds. The Rocket Belt was successfully tested by Bell Aerosystems during the 1960s. A contract was signed with DARPA in 1965. It was based upon hydrogen peroxide (HP) and pressurized nitrogen (PN). It was a simple 2-jet pack that could easily be strapped to a person's back.
Bell Aerosystems also created the Bell Pogo system that was intended to transport astronauts to the Moon. The system could be powered by a modified airplane engine. It was initially created for NASA, but was quickly adopted by US Army. It was developed into the Bell Jet Flying Belt after being tested from 1967 to 1969. It was a lightweight jetpack that could fly for up to seven metres, with a maximum altitude of 25 minutes.
Bell Aerosystems' and Williams Research Corporation's Jet Flying Belt were also involved in the development of a jetpack. It was powered by a turbojet motor and had a thrust of 1,900newtons. It was designed for a pilot to reach heights of 7m and a maximum speed of 30 MPH.
Bell Aerosystems was a great aviation company of the postwar jet age. Bell Rocket Belt was their first jetpack. The Jet Flying Belt is a follow-up. After conducting missile engine tests, the company created the Jet Flying Belt. The Advanced Research Projects Agency provided $3 million to support the project. In January 2005, the first prototype was put to the test.
In 1969, Williams Research Corporation created a new turbojet engine to power Bell Aerosystems. The WR19 engine weighed 68 lbs. It had a thrust rating at 1,900 Newtons. Bell requested that the engine be designed by the company.
Bell Aerosystems also developed the Bell Pogo system. It was based upon a modified aircraft engine and could power flight. It was developed to be used for US astronauts on Mars. It was created for NASA and the US Army.