Project Thunderball Re-Creates the Classic Movie Jetpack

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsO5Wi2sTGA]

In the James Bond movie Thunderball, 007 packs a sexy, but unrealistic jet pack featuring two rockets that keep him floating awesomely over the landscape.

Taking that prop as inspiration, Rodger Cleye built a bi-copter with contra-rotating, gimbaled motors and a PVC frame, with a total weight of 13 pounds including the dummy. Despite this relatively large weight for a RC copter, Rodger still ekes out 10-minute flight times.

He plans to convert the design to a tri-copter for added control, though it won’t be as faithful to the movie, if that matters. [via Hacked Gadgets]