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CO2 Jetpack

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:15 pm
by Acdcmonkey1991
I have finally decided to start working on this huge feat. Building a jetpack using CO2. I do not want this to be the conventional sense of a "jetpack" more like a booster pack. All I want to do is be rocketed about 10-15 feet up and sustain flight for about 2-3 seconds. Is this a feasable plan. Feel free to shoot it down, give me ideas, etc. The main problem I'm having trouble with right now is the valve setup. I was thinking to use an electric controlled flow valve. i have not seen one, do they even exist?
I think this could be possible, but I want to hear your opinion.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:20 pm
by King_TaTer
Well your main problem would be stabilization. I don't think you'd have a problem finding sufficient power. Will you be using a rope or something to tie yourself down? So you don't kill yourself :?

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:23 pm
by DYI
You're going to need a big container of CO<sub>2</sub>, but it should be doable as long as you get any stability issues worked out. What are you making the tank from anyway, aluminum pipe? Steel would likely add far too much weight in this case.

As far as a valve goes: If you're only going to be boosting for 2-3 seconds, why not use an electric solenoid valve? I doubt you'll need throttling in this case, if it's only as a booster.

And the stability issues: How exactly are you handling stability? Because I'm getting an image in my mind right now about your horrible and gruesome demise when you start flipping over out of control and rocket into an overpass or something... :roll:

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:26 pm
by jrrdw
A tie down rope is a great idea just in case you some how get 50/60 feet under you. :wink: Good call King!

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:29 pm
by Acdcmonkey1991
yes the chamber is going to be aluminum, at first I was going to use just 3 twenty ounce CO2 tanks. For stableization, I will probably use wings :lol: just kidding, I don't even no what to use. Any ideas?

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:31 pm
by DYI
It just came to mind now for some reason, but, ah... how exactly do you plan on landing? :? Because falling 60 feet or so into water isn't a very pleasant experience if you haven't already tried it, and I somehow doubt that you have a giant foam pit.

I hope that you plan on paying a drunken hobbo to try this before you strap it to your own back. :lol:

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:32 pm
by JDP12
an idea for landing is to have the CO2 still go out of the valve, only slowly, so that you fall, but it still pushes you up enough to provide resistance. sorta like a parachute, only like a rocket :D

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:38 pm
by King_TaTer
A dozen matresses or so should work hahaha. Also, where do you plan on testing this device? In your back yard? I can just see the look on your nieghbors faces right now :lol: Another good idea would be to consruct a vertical track of some sort for testing before you go commando haha.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:55 pm
by DYI
A parachute would be a good idea. Kind of kills the whole coolness aspect of it though. You could use a solid rocket to allow you to come down to Earth slowly, which would be far more impressive.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:02 pm
by rp181
lol, you could just use the solid rocket to go up =) Just get a giant air bag and do it in the middle.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:02 pm
by joestue
3 20oz bottles sound like just enough to get you into the air....

If the thrust is just lower than your mass you could jump quite high, yet still work out most of the stability issues on the ground safely.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:05 pm
by brplatz
Do it iron man style! Boots with rockets built in!

Image

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:06 pm
by jrrdw
Look up in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a monkey! A MONKEY? Jammin on done dirt cheep!

I say off a bridge in to water, just have a quick disconnect to ditch the jet pack. Wear life vest and have people ready to help, in short be smart about it.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:08 pm
by JDP12
i like the solid rocket idea to come down, it's really simple, just hit one button and you start to drift down. granted, you'd need a big rocket engine or a lot of really small ones, but oh well!!

i still like the slow CO2 though, because then you can power up again, if you feel like it.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:09 pm
by mega_swordman
What could work as far as landing goes is to have another tank that would be able to adjust how much air is being released so you can ease yourself down with the extra CO2.