The creators of the sci-fi movie Back to the Future Part II imagined a world in 2015 teeming with hoverboards—wheel-less skateboards that hover above the ground by way of magnetic attraction. But in reality hoverboards have little prospect of becoming a daily mode of transport. As demonstrated by Lexus when it unveiled a working hoverboard in 2015, the device requires an artificially constructed surface with powerful magnets built into the asphalt or concrete.
But it's too early to say goodbye to the dream of personal flying transport. Humanity can expect to see a multitude of options: from jetpacks and drones to flying cars. True, as a cross between a sports car and a light-sport aircraft, the latter will not come cheap: the estimated price is several hundred thousand euros.
For those with shallower pockets, there may be more affordable options, including the above-mentioned jetpacks. Such a liquid-fueled contraption enabled James Bond to evade his pursuers in the 1965 movie Thunderball (albeit with the help of some artful film editing).
Mini-jetpacks the size of a rucksack are being developed by the U.S. company JetPack Aviation. Larger fridge-sized versions weighing 200 kg are in development by Martin Aircraft Company of New Zealand. The jetpack can be operated manually or automatically and comes equipped with a parachute which should say the developers, save both the pilot and the vehicle.
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