Testing at the end of February in our Ko Samui testing center. Final series frames and floatation, Arms and nozzles are production series, high temp powdercoated over hard anodized. The angles are good now, arms relaxed in the correct position. New harness system works like a charm.
Late September testing of the 0.7 version jetpack. Flight reveals some areas for improvement. The arm angle was way off, as well as the arm length. Axle housing mounted too high, seat a little far back. Day two modifications better, for some elements such as the vest, it was back to the drawing board. Good in concept for floatation and positioning, but ultimately to secure for the body and preventing the necessary freedom of movement when still in the water. The modified aircraft buckle four point system was good for salt water exposure and ease of use, but the opening flaps caught the force of the water and defeated the purpose! We took all of the input as well as tester interviews and went back to the workshop for version 0.8..
We decided to pursue a more specific solution to the modification or ReCap of the jet ski system, something with a more distinctive personality. The nature of a riderless powerplant evoked drones and drone aircraft. Galactica Cylon or Predator type with a forward radar bulge that actually fit in well with the water channeling requirements and air intake protection in rough water. Shape of the front more rounded in case of contact with the beginner pilot while waiting in the water.
Water jet pack power unit, drone sketch concepts.
Diagram showing Scorpion style water power channels for water jet pack
Final stage concept rendering of water jet pack powerplant.
3D Concept rendering of Seadoo GTR ReCap Project
3D Concept rendering of Seadoo GTR ReCap Project
3D Concept rendering of Seadoo GTR ReCap Project
After spending considerable energy in the planning of a full production setup for powerplants We realized that the 100K power unit was not going to fly. In addition to the huge impracticalities of shipping such large untis around the world, the complexities of the units were simply duplicating all of the efforts that had gone into the original donor jet skis. Better to use Bombardier or Yamaha’s hundreds of millions of R&D and piggyback off it. Thus was born the ReCap project. Recapping involves taking the top off a high output jet ski and modifying the electronics and converting the hull into a strictly high powered, towable, water pump. With the ability to build it locally and service it world-wide. This would be the thing that could really grow the sport.
Initial sketches for SeaDoo GTR ReCap.
We took Jetlev-Flyer number three to the island of Mallorca and offered rentals and flight training during the summer of 2012. Mallorca is right in the middle of the action, crystal clear blue waters and some of the best food on the planet. It wasn’t all fun in the sun though. Our purpose in being there was to work out the new technology and build a new jetpack system. The experience was invaluable in seeing both the users responses and the reaction of super yachts owners to super expensive water sports toys. It turned out that not even the super rich are parting with 100K for a Jetlev-Flyer.
The second aspect of our trip was equally valuable. Building a training system and user experience. We worked with the trainers to build a manual and a step by step process for managing the learning process.
We took the hard lessons of users on the jetpacks and built new ways to make the experience a better one for training. Although Mallorca was far away from out production in Shanghai, we were able to start the tooling and test the concepts.
Big thanks to Russel, Christian and Matthias, see you again in the Balearic Islands!
We travel to Dusseldorf for the Boot (Boat) show. One of the biggest in the world. The MS Watersports Jetlev-Flyer booth is big, the units are shiny, the price tags are 100,000 Euros. The audience watches the videos, but no one comes in to buy one. We start to question how big the market for 100,000 person flying devices. Flying the jetpack in the photo on the back wall is Philip, one of the early investors in MS Watersports.
Our brand new Jetlev-Flyer from MS Watersports arrives.
Seems obvious right? Water, sport, try to float the user face up? Not so obvious to our competition! We saw the first Jetlev machine and thought that the biggest flaw was that it floated you face down in the water. The first lessons in fact, were teaching you how to roll on your back to get your face out of the water. We recognized immediately the obvious, design a system that direct the user face up! All of our designs and research models were built and engineered to float our friends face up. We have friends that are going to do crazy stuff, we wanted to give them the best system for floating in the water between flights.
Front floatation from X-Jetpacks. We predict that the days of jetpack companies in the US and Germany designing jetpacks that direct a user’s face down in the water are drawing to a close.
It is our first contribution to the advancement of the sport. Enjoy.