A team from Zhejiang University in east China has successfully tested a jet-powered backpack, marking a leap toward personal flight that was once confined to science fiction.

Developed entirely in China by the university’s JetRob Team, the backpack uses turbojet engines that let the operator steer and adjust altitude through arm movements. “It has fuel tanks on both sides of the back, one engine in the middle, and two on each arm,” said flight engineer Jiao Bojing.

Weighing 46 kilograms with a full fuel tank, the device can fly for three to five minutes at altitudes below 1,500 metres, reaching speeds up to 100 kilometres per hour. Now shifting from lab testing to pilot projects, the jetpack could see use in rescue missions or special operations.

“For the next generation, we aim to develop systems enabling autonomous flights,” Jiao added, hinting at a future where jetpacks may soar without pilot input.

Source: China Central Television