Dubai Is Outfitting Firefighters With Jetpacks
Because skyscrapers.
Short of jumping a Lykan Hypersport through a plate-glass window, escaping from one of Dubai's insanely tall skyscrapers can be tough. Not to worry, the country's Directorate of Civil Defence just signed up to supply their firefighters with jetpacks. It's like the Rocketeer meets The Towering Inferno. Yes, really.
New Zealand-based firm Martin Aircraft is the supplying the jetpacks. Each is powered by a 200-horsepower, two-stroke V-4 that drives twin ducted fans. Capable of flying up to 3,000 feet, the packs can carry payloads of 265 pounds, meaning rescuers could reach far above where ladders fall short.
Proposed uses include on-site scouting for fires and rescue of any trapped Lois Lane-types. The jetpacks can also be controlled remotely, meaning that in an emergency, unmanned units could be sent aloft to evacuate civilians, albeit slowly.
Approximately 20 units are planned for delivery. Training services, simulators, and operational support are soon to follow. The agreement, a memorandum of understanding, was signed at an otherwise lackluster Dubai Airshow, this year characterized by a slowdowns in commercial airline orders. The Dubai Police, previously championing absurdity with Porsche 918 Spyder, BMW i8 and Bugatti Veyron patrol vehicles, is incredibly jealous.
