Here's another crazy-ass Kiwi - he's been working on his flying machine for years. In spite of the name, it's a not a jetpack at all, it's a kind of personal helicopter; but at least he had the sense to go with IC engines for power.
Yeah I dunno, man. I still don't think you can beat the simplicity and elegance of the Williams X-Jet. The mill in that thing is in about 4,000 cruise missiles... there may come a day when they're cheap military surplus. Problem with the X-Jet is it'd only lift about 190 lbs... and since my ass is 200 without clothes onthat just doesn't fly (literally). Still - you replace the aluminum with carbon fiber, you do some latter-day weight reduction on the mill and... ...you're still staring down a 600 lbft thrust turbojet engine eager to suck you through. I have simpler tastes.
I think I'd enjoy the lack of noise in a glider more than anything else - all the small aircraft I've ever been in have been noisy as hell. Free as a bird.
Non-sequitur - I don't know if it's just me, but for the last day or two, I haven't seen any notifications on the website. I get email notifications, but my hubwheel-thingy doesn't turn orange, or show them - mk ?