jetpack

Jetpack, or jet pack, is a wearable propulsion device that uses jet, rocket, or ducted-fan engines to generate thrust for vertical lift and short-distance flight. Most designs resemble a backpack with one or more engines directing exhaust downward or backward for propulsion and stability. Early concepts emerged during the 1950s and 1960s, with experimental units built to demonstrate personal flight, lift-assisted mobility, and performance testing.

Performance varies by design. Rocket- or solid-fuel belts provide only seconds to a few minutes of flight and require careful handling due to fuel burn, heat, and exhaust. Turbine- or ducted-fan jetpacks use small jet engines or fans for longer, more controllable flight, but remain power-limited, loud, and sensitive to weather and airspace rules. Pilots typically wear a helmet and use hand levers or a control bar, with training in takeoff, landing, and emergency procedures.

Modern demonstrations and commercialization have produced updated devices. Companies such as JetPack Aviation and Gravity Industries have developed turbine-based systems and performed public flights and films. Practical use remains limited by safety, regulatory constraints, and the need for skilled pilots, so jetpacks are mainly shown in demonstrations, research, or niche entertainment rather than routine transport.

Jetpack also refers to Jetpack, a WordPress plugin developed by Automattic. The plugin provides security, backups, performance optimization, and site-management features, and can connect to a WordPress.com account to access centralized services. The name is unrelated to the propulsion device beyond the shared idea of enabling new kinds of movement or discovery online.