Q: What should I bring with me?
A: You should bring a bathing suit, and towel. Depending on the air and water temperature you may want to bring a sweatshirt or jacket. We offer wet and dry suits as well as aqua shoes for rent but you may also bring your own.
Q: What is it like to fly?
A: There are three unique sensations when you fly the Jetlev R200. The most intriguing sensation is the feeling of weightlessness. As soon as sufficient lift is applied, you and the jetpack become weightless and levitate in the air, and even small amounts of force will move or turn you. You will feel some pressure from the saddle and the trapeze, but usually no more than from riding a bicycle. The second unique sensation is suspended height. Even if you are an airplane or helicopter pilot, few have ever experienced the sensation of being suspended up to three-storey high with no visible support from above or beneath your feet. 30 feet may not sound very high but it can seem a lot higher in a jetpack, and the unique perspective from that height is incredible. The third unique sensation is the absolutely amazing three dimensional freedom of movement. Once you learn how to fly, you can travel in any direction, at any height, and at any speed that the system will carry you.
Q: Can the water jets hurt my arms and legs?
A: The pressure in the nozzles could reach 60 psi (only slightly higher than municipal pressures), but because of high flow rates, it may cause low-level pain and bruising in the arms, so one should not place hands or arms in the jets. Unlike pressure washers which operate between 1,800 to over 3,000 psi, our jets are far from being strong enough to be effective as an exfoliation or hair removal tool. By the time it has traveled 30 feet or 8.5 m, the water stream has broken up into droplets and slowed down substantially and have little impact force.
Q: Is it very noisy?
A: The jetpack itself has no engine and no moving parts other than the articulated thrust assembly. There is a small nozzle hiss, and the water jets do make splashing sounds when they enter the water. The boat unit has better sound insulation than a standard personal watercraft, and uses a four stroke engine with noise abatement systems. The Jetlev is generally quieter than a comparable personal watercraft.
Q: What happens if I fall?
A: Even if you fall from the maximum height of 30 feet or 8.5 m, you will be entering the water at less than 30 mph, and all body parts will be slowing down together gradually by drag from the water. You will be
protected by the saddle, back rest, body harness, PFD, and other protective equipment. Hundreds of times each year, thousands of platform divers jump from 10 m, or 33 feet, with no protective equipment, and few
serious injuries occur. It is important to fly only over deep water and stay well away from the boat unit while in flight. While it will still be a much softer landing than falling on land, you could sustain injuries if you fall on the boat unit.
Q: Are there any age limits?
A: Yes, you must be 18 years of age to fly. Pilots 16 or 17 years of age may fly with written consent from a parent or guardian. The oldest Jetlev pilot to-date was 72. If you are 82, healthy and in good physical condition, there is no reason why you could not fly.
Q: Are there any height or weight restrictions?
A: Yes. The Jetlev has several adjustable setting that allow for pilots between 5 feet and 6 feet 6 inches tall and a maximum waist of 46 inches.
Q: What qualifications do I need to fly?
A: You must be a good swimmer, and should not feel uncomfortable having your face in the water from time to time. You should not have a fear of heights. You should be in good health and physical condition. You
should have no history of any heart conditions and flying is not advised for women who are pregnant. You must also have good vision and be able to understand the instructor.
Q: What if I wear prescription glasses or contacts?
A: You must have clear vision in order to fly. If you wear prescription glasses, you should use sport straps to secure them. Whether you use prescription glasses or contacts, you should wear a full visor safety helmet to help prevent losing your visual aids.
Q: Is it very uncomfortable, and do I have to be strong to fly?
A: No. Unlike parasailing or parachute harnesses, your weight is supported by the padded unicycle-style saddle and leg trapeze. If you lean forward during flight, part of your weight is also supported by the 5-point
harness system. Your arms only need to apply a few ounces of effort to control the control arms (which in turn deflect the nozzles). Some pilots report sore arms and shoulders after the first flight because they tense up all these muscles in flight. The more relaxed you are and let the jetpack carry you, the less effort you will feel.
Q: How long does it take to learn to fly?
A: Our training system has made it very easy to learn to fly. How quickly you learn depends a lot on your willingness to accept new things, your aptitude with sports that require some weight shifting, and how well
you follow the instructor's directions. A qualified instructor can teach a new pilot to fly unassisted in as little as 6 minutes, but most take a little longer. Even though some will learn to fly better and higher than others, everyone will have a fantastic levitating experience on the first flight.
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