The Martin P12 Jetpack

By Drew Prindle Published December 23, 2019

No matter how ridiculously advanced technology becomes, it still never quite feels like we’re living in the future. We have supercomputers in our pockets, autonomous robotic vacuums, and can control our surroundings with nothing more than our brainwaves – but in spite of all these incredible advances, I still don’t feel like I’m living in that Jetsons-style technological utopia we were promised. Why? Because no matter how many Roombas I’ve got cleaning my floors, it just isn’t the future without hovercars and jetpacks.

Plain and simple, we are not living in the future until we can all zip around in our own personal gravity-defying contraptions, but thanks to the good folks at Martin Aircraft Company in New Zealand, that sci-fi dream may soon come true. For the past few decades founder Glenn Martin and his company have been developing, testing, and refining an experimental aircraft that they’re touting as “the first practical jetpack.”

Recommended Videos

The word “practical” seems like a bit of a stretch considering that one of these badboys will cost over 150K, but the machines do appear to be pretty capable. Inside the P12’s snazzy carbon-fiber composite frame sits a gasoline-fueled, 200-horsepower engine that powers a pair of carbon-Kevlar rotors. These engines can reportedly take a pilot up to 5000 feet high and will run for up to 30 minutes – and it’s even got a parachute built in just in case the whole thing craps out on you mid-flight.

Find out more at MartinJetpack.com

Drew is our resident tech nerd. He’s spent most of his life trying to be James Bond, so naturally he’s developed an…

Culture

The best shows to binge on Peacock in February

Lots of NBC hits are on Peacock now — here are the best shows to watch

Gabriel Macht wearing a light gray suit

There are definitely too many streaming services. Thanks to Netflix's revolution, every broadcast network and parent company decided that they had to get in on the streaming wars. Peacock TV is NBC Universal's streaming service, and although it may not seem like the most attractive option, there are actually a number of great Peacock movies and shows available on the service that are hard to find anywhere else.
Some of those popular shows are Peacock streaming originals, although there are plenty that initially aired on NBC or elsewhere and have found their way to Peacock thanks in part to the complicated nature of TV rights. Regardless, though, Peacock speaks to the impressive legacy of NBC Television. Growing up, I watched many of these shows as part of my regular nighttime routine. Now, thankfully, they're available at our fingertips anytime. Looking for more streaming options? We also have your guide to the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, and the best shows on Paramount+.

Suits (2011)

Culture

What channel is the Super Bowl on?

Wondering how to watch Super Bowl? There are quite a few ways, it turns out

The Super Bowl trophy being held up

It's Super Bowl season, people. The stage is set, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9, 2025. The world will be watching to see if the Chiefs or the Eagles hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the game (well, some will be more concerned with how many times Travis Kelce superfan Taylor Swift will be shown, but we digress). You may have the big screen and all the requisite Super Bowl appetizers, but what channel is the Super Bowl on?

Although it's the biggest sporting event in America, I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to try to find the game itself. It changes channels every year, and is likely to be that way forever!

Culture

10 famous speeches in history that continue to stand the test of time

These speeches helped shape world history

Martin Luther King Jr. March on Washington 1963

A great speech is something that combines persuasive writing, comfort with public speaking (something that I know that I personally need to work on), and a meaningful message to create an impression greater than the sum of its parts.

There's no one set of rules to govern the ideal speech, and plenty of people struggle with them even with teams of experts to help them out -- just see the majority of speeches given by politicians. But once in a while, a truly great speaker and a truly great speech come together to create something that stands out and withstands the test of time, carrying meaning with it through generations, even to those who weren't yet born when it was given. That holds true for me, a number of speeches on this list were given before I was born, but they still resonate with me.