The Story

As a child, Glenn Martin dreamt of flying. Later, studying biochemistry at the University of Otago, Glenn and his friends fantasised about flying home to their flat after long nights at the local hotel. While his flatmates let the thought pass, Glenn began a lifetime’s work researching the potential for personal aviation devices.

In 1998, after years of refining and redesigning his secret invention, Glenn founded a company with the specific goal of researching and developing a jetpack that could fly 100 times longer than the
Bell Rocket Belt (26 seconds)

Glenn and his team of innovative engineers achieved that goal in 2005 with “Prototype 9”, laying the foundations for a viable pre-production prototype to be developed.

The Martin Jetpack was unveiled in July 2008 at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States, and the Martin Jetpack became international front-page news.

Earlier this year, the Martin Aircraft Company signed a $12-million joint-venture deal with an international aircraft company, to build Martin Jetpacks with the aim of making 500 units generating annual turnover of $100 million within three years. The jetpacks will be sold to emergency response organisations, such as police and military, providing a quick way of getting aid and relief into disaster-hit areas. You’ll be able to order one later this year at a cost of around US$100,000.

Join Glenn at this free event to learn more about his fascinating story.

The Venues

7.00pm – Monday 6 September

SIT Centrestage
33 Don Street
Invercargill

www.sit.ac.nz

 

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6.00pm – Tuesday 7 September

Paramount Theatre
25 Courtenay Place
Wellington

www.paramount.co.nz/movies.html


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7.00 – Wednesday 8 September

Tauranga Yacht Club
90 Keith Allen Drive
Sulphur Point
Tauranga

www.yacht.org.nz


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6.30pm – Thursday 9 September

Crowne Plaza
128 Albert Street
Auckland

www.ichotelsgroup.com


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1.30pm – Friday 10 September

The Century Theatre
65 Marine Parade
Napier

www.centurycinema.co.nz

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7.30pm – Monday 13 September

Hobson Room
Quality Hotel Plymouth International
Corner Courtney and Leach Street,
New Plymouth

www.plymouth.co.nz



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7.30 – Tuesday 14 September

Aurora Centre for the Performing Arts
Burnside High School
151 Greers Road
Christchurch

www.burnside.school.nz



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12.30pm – Wednesday 15 September

South Canterbury Finance Tennis Centre
Benvenue Avenue
Timaru



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6.30pm – Thursday 16 September

Archway 1 Lecture Theatre
Union Street East
University of Otago, Dunedin Campus.
Dunedin

Campus Map

 

 

 

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For more information

See more of the jetpack in action on the Martin
Jetpack YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/MartinJetPack

To find out more, visit the Martin Jetpack site at
www.martinjetpack.com

The Pickering public lecture series takes place in September each year and is named in honour of Sir William Pickering, a Wellington-born engineer who earned a reputation as one of the titans of the United States’ space programme.