Since the beginning of human history, people have longed for the power of flight. Though airplanes, gliders, and helicopters have made it possible for us to get off the ground in modern times, many of us still dream of taking to the air without a need for vehicles. No wonder so many popular characters have flying abilities, from Icarus in ancient Greek myths to Superman in modern comic books. In reality, though, our anatomy is working against us—human beings just aren’t built for flying. But some characters, like Iron Man, use technology to help them fly—so why can’t I have a jet suit?

Personal jet packs, or rocket belts, have actually been a reality since just after World War II. But there are a few things that make them impractical for daily use, even after 50 years of testing. First of all, they’re heavy!  This makes landing *really* hard on the pilot’s legs and knees. Second, they burn fuel very quickly—so carrying enough fuel for a lengthy flight is difficult. Third, they’re hard to control. And unfortunately, a small piloting error in a jet pack can pretty quickly end in serious injury or death. For all these reasons, the military and large corporations exploring jet pack technology have mostly given up on it in recent decades.

BUT! Inventors and tinkerers around the world are still working on refining the idea of the personal jet pack. A Swiss inventor named Yves Rossy, who also goes by “Jetman,” has developed a winged jet pack that allows horizontal flight (as opposed to flying in a standing-up position). Jetman doesn’t take off from the ground, though;  he has to start by jumping out of a plane like a parachutist. Once he’s in the air, he controls his flight almost entirely by moving his body—it’s as close to flying like a bird as we humans have managed to get.

So far...

Visit Superheroes: A SuperPOWered Spring Break through May 5, and be sure to vote in the Superpower Showdown online or at the museum!