The SkyPak Is a Prototype Electric Jetpack That Actually Works

Gant began developing the SkyPak a few years ago, and he’s not just some backyard tinkerer. He’s worked for a leading aircraft manufacturer and has a degree in mechanical engineering. He also has his pilot’s license, although since the SkyPak is technically an ultralight, it requires no license to fly. He sees legitimate uses for his creation, and it’s not something he rushed into.

It started in 2020 with a small-scale prototype that looked much more like a hobbyist drone. It proved the layout, which uses six groups of rotors, was feasible as a means to enable controlled flight. By angling the top and bottom motors, Gant’s system can provide stability in pitch, roll, and yaw. Despite everything being so close together, he indicates that turbulence between the fast-spinning blades is not a problem, either—even on the full-scale test rig. “There is turbulent flow that decreases efficiency; however, there are also gains in efficiency with a counter-rotating system like this that…