Xa umyili uDavid Maiman waya esibhakabhakeni, wabonakala ephendula umnqweno wamandulo. Ngoko kutheni kungekho mntu ukhathalayo nje?
Sinazo iijetpacks kwaye asikhathali.Ummi waseOstreliya ogama linguDavid Maiman wenza ijetpack enamandla waza wayibhabhisa kwihlabathi – kanye emthunzini weStatue of Liberty – kodwa bambalwa abantu abalaziyo igama lakhe.Ijetpack yakhe ibikhona, kodwa hayi. omnye wayengxamele ukuyifumana.Abantu kudala besithi bafuna iijetpacks kangangamashumi eminyaka, kwaye besisithi sifuna ukubhabha kangangamawaka eminyaka, kodwa ngokwenene?jonga phezulu.Isibhakabhaka asinanto.
Iinkampani zeenqwelomoya zijongene nokunqongophala komqhubi wenqwelomoya, kwaye inokuba mbi ngakumbi. Uphononongo lwakutsha nje lufumanise ukuba ngo-2025, silindele ukunqongophala kwehlabathi kwabaqhubi beenqwelo-moya abangama-34,000. Kwiinqwelo-moya ezincinci, iindlela ziyafana. Iinqwelomoya zokukhanya azikwazi kuphila. (Umvelisi, i-Air Création, uthengise imoto enye kuphela e-US kulo nyaka uphelileyo.) Nyaka ngamnye, sinabakhweli abaninzi kunye nabaqhubi abambalwa. ikhona, kodwa uMayman akafumani ngqalelo yomntu.
Wandixelela ukuba: “Kwiminyaka embalwa edluleyo, ndandinenqwelo-moya kwiZibuko laseSydney.” Ndisakhumbula ndibhabha kufuphi ngokwaneleyo ukuze ndibone ababalekayo nabantu ababehambahamba kwindawo yezityalo, abanye babo ababengajongi phezulu.IiJetpacks zazingxola, ke ndiyakuqinisekisa ukuba zindivile.Kodwa ndandiPhaya, ndibhabha ngejethipakhi, azikhange zijonge phezulu.”
Xa ndandineminyaka engama-40 ubudala, ndaqalisa ukuzama ukubhabha nantoni na endinokuyenza – iinqwelo-ntaka, ii-ultralights, iiglider, ii-hang gliders. Ndandisoloko ndifuna ukwenza njalo. Ngoko ndazama i-paragliding, skydiving. Ngenye imini, ndema kwisikhululo seenqwelo-moya esisecaleni kwendlela eCarlifonia ilizwe lewayini elalibonelela ngeenqwelomoya zeMfazwe Yehlabathi I. ibhomu, iB-17G ebizwa ngokuba yiSentimental Journey to refuel, ndiye ndakhwela.Ngaphakathi, inqwelomoya ibonakala ngathi sisikhephe esidala se-aluminiyam;irhabaxa kwaye irhabaxa, kodwa ibhabha ngokutyibilikayo kwaye iyantyiloza njengeCadillac.Sabhabha kangangemizuzu engama-20 phezu kweenduli eziluhlaza kunye neenduli eziluhlaza, isibhakabhaka simhlophe njengechibi elinomkhenkce, kwaye yayingathi siyisebenzisa kakuhle iCawa.
Kuba andiyazi into endiyenzayo, kwaye andiyoncutshe kwizibalo, ukufunda umoya, okanye ukujonga iidials okanye iigeji, zonke ezi zinto ndizenza njengomgibeli kunokuba ngumqhubi wenqwelomoya. Andisoze ndibe ngumqhubi wenqwelomoya. pilot.Ndiyayazi le.Abaqhubi beenqwelomoya bafanele ukuba balungelelaniswe kwaye bacwangciswe ngendlela, andiyonye yezo zinto.
Kodwa ukuba kunye naba baqhubi beenqwelo-moya kundenze ndibe nombulelo ongazenzisiyo kwabo baqhubeka behamba - ndizama kwaye ndivuya xa bebhabha. Intlonipho yam kubaqhubi beenqwelomoya ayinamda, kwaye kule minyaka ili-10 idlulileyo, utitshala wam kwisikolo samabanga aphantsi wayengumFrentshi-waseKhanada ogama linguMichael Globensky owayefundisa ukukhanya kwe-ultralight. Ibhayisekile enamavili amathathu ebhabha ePetaluma, eKhalifoniya.Wayedla ngokufundisa i-hang gliding, kodwa elo shishini lalifile. Kwiminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu eyadlulayo, lo mfundi wanyamalala. , kunye nabanye abafundi.Kodwa loo msebenzi uye wehla kakhulu.Ukugqibela kwam ukumbona, wayengenabafundi tu.
Sekunjalo, sinyuka rhoqo.I-ultralight trike esiyiqhube yayifana nesithuthuthu esinezihlalo ezibini kunye ne-hang glider enkulu edityaniswe kuyo.Izibane ze-Ultralights azikhuselwanga kwizinto - akukho gumbi lokuhamba;bobabini umqhubi kunye nabakhweli bavezwa - ngoko sinxiba iidyasi zeegusha, izigcina-ntloko, kunye neeglavu ezishinyeneyo.I-Globensky yaqengqeleka kumgaqo weenqwelo-moya, ilindele ukuba iCessna encinci kunye ne-turboprop idlule, kwaye ke yayilithuba lethu.Inikwe amandla yi-propellers ngasemva, ukukhanya kwe-ultralight kukhawuleza ngokukhawuleza, kwaye emva kweemitha ezingama-90, i-Globensky iqhubela amaphiko ngaphandle kwaye sisemoyeni.
Emva kokuba sishiye i-airstrip, imvakalelo yayiyenye yehlabathi kwaye yahluke ngokupheleleyo kukuhlala kuyo nayiphi na enye indiza. iPacific.Globensky uthanda ukuwola elunxwemeni ngaphezu kwePoint Reyes, apho amaza angezantsi afana neswekile echithiweyo.Izigcina-ntloko zethu zinemakrofoni, kwaye rhoqo ngemizuzu eyi-10, omnye wethu uthetha, kodwa ngokuqhelekileyo kuthi nje esibhakabhakeni, athule, kodwa ngamaxesha athile. ndimamele ingoma kaJohn Denver.Loo ngoma iphantse ihlale iRocky Mountain High.Ngamanye amaxesha ndiye ndihendeke ukuba ndibuze uGlobensky ukuba besinokuphila ngaphandle kukaJohn Denver "Rocky Mountain Heights" - ngakumbi xa siqwalasela ukuba le mvumi-umbhali wengoma wasweleka ebhabha umfuniselo. Inqwelomoya eMonterey, ngaphambi nje kokuba siye eMzantsi – kodwa andinalo isibindi. Wayeyithanda kakhulu loo ngoma.
UGlobensky wathi qatha engqondweni yam xa ndilinde kwindawo yokumisa iimoto kwivenkile enkulu yaseRalphs kwidolophu yaseMoorpark engumqwebedu esemazantsi eCalifornia. babhalisele iseshoni yoqeqesho ye-jetpack yempelaveki apho ndiya kunxiba kwaye ndisebenzise iijetpacks zabo (JB10) kunye nenqwaba yabanye abafundi.
Kodwa njengoko ndilinde kwindawo yokupaka, ndadibana kuphela nabanye abantu abane - izibini ezimbini - ababekho kwiseshoni yoqeqesho.Okokuqala nguWilliam Wesson noBobby Yancey, i-burly 40-somethings esuka eOxford, Alabama, 2,000 miles away. ipakishwe ecaleni kwam kwisedan eqeshiweyo. "Jetpack?"babuza.Ndinqwala, bayayeka kwaye silinde.UWesson ngumqhubi wenqwelomoya oqhube phantse yonke into - iinqwelomoya, iigyrocopters, iihelikopta.Ngoku usebenza kwinkampani yamandla yasekuhlaleni, iihelicopter ezibhabhayo kuloo ndawo kwaye uhlola imigca ephantsi.UYancey wayengowakhe umhlobo osenyongweni kwaye uhambo lwaluhamba kakuhle.
Esinye isibini nguJesse noMichelle. UMichelle, onxibe iiglasi ezibomvu, ukhathazekile kwaye ukhona ukuxhasa uJesse, ofana kakhulu noColin Farrell kwaye usebenze noMaiman noJarry njenge-cameraman yasemoyeni iminyaka. othe wadubula umfanekiso kaMayman ebhabha ejikeleza iSitatimende seNkululeko kunye neZibuko laseSydney. Unikwe esithi “khuphela laa nto” endaweni yokuthi “ewe,” uJesse, njengam, unomdla wokubhabha, ukubhabha kufutshane – basoloko bengabakhweli, hayi abaqhubi. bendifuna ukubhabha ijetpack, kodwa zange ndilifumane ithuba.
Ekugqibeleni, iveni emnyama yatsho yangxola kwindawo yokumisa iimoto kwaza kwatsiba indoda ende nenenyama engumFrentshi. Lo nguJarry. Wayenamehlo aqaqambileyo, eneendevu, yaye esoloko ewuvuyela umsebenzi wakhe. Ndacinga ukuba wayefuna ukudibana evenkileni kuba indawo yoqeqesho lwejetpack kunzima ukuyifumana, okanye - nangcono - indawo yayo iyimfihlo ephezulu.kodwa hayi.UJarry usixelele ukuba siye eRalphs, size nesidlo sasemini ebesifuna, sisifake kwinqwelo yakhe kwaye uya kuhlawula kwaye asise indawo yoqeqesho.Ngoko umbono wethu wokuqala wenkqubo yoqeqesho lweJetpack Aviation yayingowomntu omde ongumFrentshi etyhala inqwelo yokuthenga kwivenkile enkulu.
Emva kokuba elayishe ukutya kwethu elorini, sangena samlandela, ikharavani idlula kwintsimi yeziqhamo kunye nemifuno ethe tyaba yaseMoorpark, izitshizi ezimhlophe zinqumla imiqolo yemifuno kunye ne-aquamarines. sithatha indlela yethu enothuli sinqumla iinduli zelamuni kunye nemithi yomkhiwane, sigqitha kwizithinteli-moya ze-eucalyptus, kwaye ekugqibeleni singene kwifama yeavokhado echumileyo emalunga neemitha ezingama-800 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle, iJetpack ikwindawo yokubhabha.
Lulungiselelo olungazinzanga.Indawo eneehektare ezimbini engenanto yahlulwe kwifama iphela ngocingo olumhlophe olubiyelwe ngomthi. Kumhlaba orhangqileyo kwakukho iimfumba zeenkuni kunye nentsimbi, itrektara endala kunye nezakhiwo zangaphandle zealuminiyam. UJarry usixelele ukuba umfama ongumnini womhlaba naye wayengumqhubi wenqwelo-moya kwaye ehlala kwindlu ephezu komqolomba.” Akayikhathalelanga ingxolo,” watsho uJarry, ekroba kwikoloni yaseSpain engasentla.
Embindini wekompon kukho ijetpack testbed, uxande lwekhonkrithi ubukhulu bebala lebhola yomnyazi. Abafundi bethu bazulazula imizuzu embalwa ngaphambi kokuba bafumane i-jetpack, eyayijinga kwisingxobo senqanawa njengengqokelela yemyuziyam. Intle kwaye ilula into.Ine-turbojets ezimbini eziguqulwe ngokukodwa, isikhongozeli esikhulu samafutha kunye neziphatho ezibini-i-throttle ngasekunene kunye ne-yaw ngasekhohlo.I-jetpack ngokuqinisekileyo inento yekhompyutha, kodwa ubukhulu becala, ilula kwaye kulula- Ukuqonda umatshini.Ijongeka kanye njengejetpack ngaphandle kokuchitha indawo okanye ubunzima.Ine-turbojets ezimbini ezinomlinganiselo ophezulu we-375 pounds.Inomthamo wamafutha we-9.5 iilitha.Iyomile, i-jetpack inobunzima be-83 pounds.
Umtshini kunye ne-compound yonke, ngokwenene, ayithandeki ngokupheleleyo kwaye ngokukhawuleza ikhumbuza i-NASA - enye indawo engathandekiyo kakhulu, eyakhiwe kwaye igcinwe ngabantu abanzulu abangayikhathaleliyo yonke into.Ifakwe kwimigxobhozo kunye ne-scrubland yaseFlorida, i-NASA Indawo yaseCape Canaveral isebenza ngokupheleleyo kwaye akukho ngxabano. Uhlahlo lwabiwo-mali lokulungisa umhlaba lubonakala ngathi lunoziro. Njengoko ndandibukele inqwelomoya yokugqibela yesiphekepheke, ndiye ndachukunyiswa kuko konke ukuguquka ngenxa yokungagxininisi kwam kuyo nantoni na enganxulumananga nobufundisi. isandla - ukwakha izinto ezintsha ezibhabhayo.
E-Moorpark, sasihleli kwi-hangar encinci ye-hangar, apho i-TV enkulu yayidlala umfanekiso kaJarry no-Mayman beqhuba ii-avatar ezahlukeneyo zeejetpacks zabo. .Njalo ngexesha elithile, imfutshane evela kwi-movie ye-James Bond i-Thunderball idityaniswe kunye ne-comedic effect.UJarry usixelele ukuba uMayman uxakeke kwifowuni kunye nabatyali-mali, ngoko uya kusingatha imiyalelo eyisiseko.Ngezwi elinzima lesiFrentshi, uxoxa. izinto ezifana ne-throttle kunye ne-yaw, ukhuseleko kunye nentlekele, kwaye emva kwemizuzu ye-15 kwi-whiteboard, kucacile ukuba silungele ukubeka izixhobo zethu.Andikakulungeli okwangoku, kodwa oko kulungile.
Impahla yokuqala yayilidangatye lempahla yangaphantsi ende. Emva koko kukho ipere yeekawusi zoboya ezinzima. Emva koko kukho ibhulukhwe yesilivere, ilula kodwa imelana nedangatye. Kuphinde kubekho enye ipere yeekawusi zoboya ezinzima. Emva koko kukho iijumpsuits.helmet.Fire resistant. iiglavu.Ekugqibeleni, iibhutsi zothwathwa ezinzima ziya kuba sisitshixo sokugcina iinyawo zethu zingatshi.(Olunye ulwazi luyeza kamsinya.)
Ekubeni uWesson engumqhubi wenqwelo-moya oqeqeshiweyo, sagqiba kwelokuba simkhulule kuqala. Wakhwela izinyuko ezintathu zothango lwentsimbi waza watyibilika kwi-jetpack yakhe, eyayixhonywe kwiipali ezisembindini wetela. Xa uJarry wayembophelela, uMaiman wabonakala. Uneminyaka engama-50 ubudala, ulungelelene kakuhle, unempandla, unamehlo aluhlaza, unemilenze emide kwaye uthetha ngokuthambileyo.
Xa wabuya waza waqalisa ukugalela amafutha kwi-jetpack, yaqonda kuphela ukuba kubonakala kuyingozi kangakanani, kwaye kutheni uphuhliso lwe-jetpack kunye nokwamkelwa lwalucotha. Ngelixa sigcwalisa iitanki zegesi yemoto yethu ngepetroli evuthayo kakhulu yonke imihla, kukho - okanye sizenza ngathi yiba — umgama okhululekileyo phakathi kwenyama yethu ebuthathaka kunye nala mafutha aqhumayo. Kodwa ukuthwala loo mafutha emqolo, kubhaka ozukileyo ozele yimibhobho kunye neeinjini zomoya, kuzisa ekhaya ubunyani benjini yokutsha yangaphakathi. ubuso babudida.Nangona kunjalo, iseyeyona teknoloji igqwesileyo sinayo, kwaye kuthathe uMayman iminyaka eli-15, kunye nenani lokuphindaphinda okungaphumelelanga, ukufika apha.
Akunjalo ukuba wayengowokuqala.Umntu wokuqala kwirekhodi kwi-patent ye-jetpack (okanye i-rocket pack) yinjineli yaseRashiya u-Alexander Andreev, owayecinga ukuba amajoni asebenzisa isixhobo ukutsiba phezu kweendonga kunye nemisele.Akazange enze ipakethi yakhe ye-rocket, kodwa amaNazi. iingqiqo ezibolekiweyo kwiprojekthi yabo Himmelsstürmer (Storm in Heaven) - ababenethemba lokuba iya kunika i-superman yamaNazi isakhono sokutsiba. Siyabonga uThixo ukuba imfazwe iphelile ngaphambi koko, kodwa ingcamango isaphila ezingqondweni zeenjineli kunye nabaqambi. akuzange kube ngo-1961 apho iBell Aerosystems yavelisa iBell Rocket Strap, ijetpack ephindwe kabini eyaqhubela lowo uyinxibileyo phezulu imizuzwana engama-21 isebenzisa ihydrogen peroxide njengamafutha. yabhabha phezu komsitho wokuvula.
Amakhulu ezigidi zabantu abukele loo mboniso, kwaye abantu abanakubekwa tyala ngokucinga ukuba iijetpacks zemihla ngemihla ziyeza. wafunda ukubhabha ngaphambi kokuba afunde ukuqhuba;wafumana ilayisenisi yakhe yomqhubi wenqwelomoya eneminyaka eyi-16. Waya ekholejini waza waba ngumrhwebi we-serial, ekugqibeleni waqala kwaye wathengisa inkampani efana neYelp, kwaye waya eCalifornia nge-windfall ukuze azalisekise iphupha lakhe lokudala i-jetpack yakhe.Ukuqala kwi-2005 , wasebenza kunye neenjineli kwipaki yoshishino eVan Nuys, ukwakha kunye nokuvavanya ukuhlukahluka kobuchwephesha.Zonke ezi zintlukwano ze-jetpack zinomqhubi omnye wokuvavanya, nangona efumana uqeqesho kuBill Suitor (umfana ofanayo owamphefumlela kwi-84th. IiOlimpiki).NguDavid Maiman lowo.
Iinguqulelo zangaphambili zasebenzisa ii-injini ze-12, emva koko 4, kwaye wayehlala ephahlazeka kwizakhiwo (kunye ne-cacti) ejikeleze i-Van Nuys Industrial Park.Emva kweveki ehluphekileyo yovavanyo lweenqwelo-moya e-Australia, wawa kwifama yaseSydney ngolunye usuku waza walaliswa esibhedlele ngokutshisa okukhulu. ukuya ethangeni lakhe.Njengoko wayecwangciselwe ukubhabha phezu kweZibuko laseSydney ngosuku olulandelayo, wakhululwa waza ngokufutshane wabhabha phezu kwezibuko ngaphambi kokuntlitheka kwakhona, ngeli xesha kwi-drinks.Uphando olungakumbi kunye nophuhliso lwalandelwa, kwaye ekugqibeleni, uMayman wazinza ezimbini. -uyilo lwejethi ye-JB9 kunye ne-JB10.Ngale nguqulo - le siyivavanyayo namhlanje - akukho ziganeko ezinkulu.
Kubalulekile ukuqaphela, nangona kunjalo, ukuba uMayman noJarry babhabha iijethi zabo phantse phezu kwamanzi kuphela - abakayila indlela yokunxiba zombini ijetpack kunye neparashute.
Yiyo loo nto sibhabha sibotshelelwe namhlanje.Kwaye kutheni singekho ngaphezulu kweenyawo ezi-4 ukusuka emhlabeni. Ngaba kwanele? Ndihleli emphethweni wetela, ndibukele uWesson ezilungiselela, ndazibuza ukuba amava—ebhabha ngeenyawo ezi-4 ngaphezulu ikhonkrithi—iza kunika into efana nokubhabha kokwenyani.Ngelixa ndiye ndonwabela yonke inqwelomoya endiyithathileyo kuyo yonke inqwelomoya endiyizamileyo, bendisoloko ndibuyela kumava asondele kakhulu ekubhabha okumsulwa kwaye ndiziva ndingenasisindo. ndandikwinduli yegolide kunxweme olusembindini waseCalifornia, enengca yemohair, kwaye indoda eneminyaka engama-60 ubudala yayindifundisa indlela yokubhabha i-hang glider. , iibholiti neentambo—kwaye ekugqibeleni, ndandiphezu kwentaba, ndilungele ukubaleka ndize nditsibe. Yiloo nto kanye ekuthethwa ngayo – ukubaleka, ukutsiba nokudada kwindlela eseleyo njengoko iseyile ephezu kwam ibetha eyona ithambileyo. Ndenze amaxesha alishumi elinesibini ngaloo mini kwaye andizange ndibhabha ngaphezu kweenyawo ze-100 kude kube mva kwemini. Ndizifumana ndicinga yonke imihla malunga nokungabi nasisindo, ukuzola kunye nokulula kokujinga phantsi kwamaphiko e-canvas, i-gallop yeeNtaba ze-Mohair ngaphantsi kwam. iinyawo.
Kodwa ndiyaphunguka. Ndihleli kwisitulo seplastiki ecaleni kwetela ngoku, ndijonge uWesson. Wema kwizinyuko zothango lwentsimbi, enxibe isigcina-ntloko esiqinileyo, izidlele sele ziyinxalenye yempumlo yakhe, amehlo akhe ewacinezele. Xa uJarry ethetha ngomqondiso, uWesson wadubula iijethi, ezazikhala okodaka. Emthunzini wemithi ye-eucalyptus, kwakufana nokuma emva kwenqwelo-moya xa usuka kwibala leenqwelo-moya.
Ngelo xesha, uJarry wema phambi kukaWesson, esebenzisa izimbo zomzimba nentloko eshukumayo ukumkhokelela phezulu nasezantsi, ekhohlo nasekunene. i-boxer ene-10 hits. Wahamba ngononophelo ejikeleze i-tarmac, engekho ngaphezu kweenyawo ze-4 ukuphakama, kwaye emva koko, ngokukhawuleza, kuphelile.Injalo intlekele ye-jetpack technology.Abakwazi ukubonelela ngamafutha aneleyo kwinqwelomoya engaphezulu. Imizuzu esibhozo—nam lowo ngumlinganiselo ophezulu. Iparafini inzima, itsha ngokukhawuleza, kwaye umntu unokuthwala kakhulu. ukukhanya kunye namandla asebenzayo ngokwaneleyo ukwenza ngcono kune-kerosene, kodwa, okwangoku, ulinganiselwe kwizinto onokuzithwala, ezingekho kakhulu.
UWesson walala kwisihlalo seplastiki ecaleni kukaYancey emva kokuba ebaleke ijetpack yakhe, egungxulwa kwaye eqhwalela. Ubhabhe phantse lonke uhlobo lwenqwelomoya kunye nehelikopta, kodwa “leyo,” watsho, “yeyona nto inzima endakha ndayenza.”
UJese wenza umsebenzi omhle kakhulu ebhabha ebhabhela phantsi ngomyalelo olungileyo, kodwa ke wenza into endingayaziyo ukuba bekufanele siyenze: wehlela kwitama. ngokuqhelekileyo emhlabeni - kodwa ngeejetpacks, into engathandekiyo eyenzekayo xa abaqhubi beenqwelomoya behla kwikhonkrithi. Xa uJesse emi okanye ehlala kwizinyuko, umbhobho unokukhutshelwa phantsi kwizinyuko ezibiyelweyo kwaye usasazeke ngezantsi. lahlasela iinyawo zakhe, amathole akhe. UJarry noMaiman bangena esenzweni. UMaiman usebenzisa iremote ukucima iturbine ngelixa uJarry esiza nebhakethi lamanzi.Kwesinye intshukumo yokuziqhelanisa, walathisa iinyawo zikaJesse, iibhutsi nayo yonke into kuyo. ayiphumi ebhafini, kodwa isifundo sisafundwa. Musa ukumisa etela njengoko injini isebenza.
Lathi lakufika ixesha lam, ndanyathela kwizitepsi zothango lwentsimbi ndatyibilika ecaleni kwijetpack eyayixhonywe kwiipuli.Ndandibuva ubunzima bayo xa ijinga kwipuli, kodwa xa uJarry eyibeka emqolo yayinzima. .I-packaging yenzelwe kakuhle ukusabalalisa ubunzima kunye nolawulo olulula, kodwa i-90 pounds (eyomileyo kunye ne-fuel) ayikho i-joke.Kumele kuthiwe iinjineli zaseMayman zenze umsebenzi obalaseleyo kunye nokulinganisela kunye nokulula kokulawula. Ngephanyazo, yavakala ilungile, yonke loo nto.
Okokuthi, ukuya kuthi ga kwi-buckles kunye ne-straps.Kukho i-buckles kunye neentambo ezininzi ezihambelana ne-suitdiving suit, egxininisa ukuqina kwe-groin.Ngaphambi kokuba ndithethe malunga nantoni na malunga nokuqina kwe-groin, uJarry uchaza i-throttle, esesandleni sam sokunene. , ukunika amafutha amaninzi okanye amancinci kwi-jet turbine.Ulawulo lwesandla sam sasekhohlo ngu-yaw, uqondise umbhobho wejethi ngasekhohlo okanye ngasekunene.Kukho izibane kunye neegeji ezincanyathiselwe kwisibambo, kodwa namhlanje, ndiza kufumana lonke ulwazi lwam UJarry.NjengoWesson noJesse phambi kwam, izidlele zam zatyhalelwa empumlweni yam, kwaye mna noJarry sadibana namehlo, silindele nawuphi na umthetho omncinci oza kundinceda ndingafi.
UMaiman wagcwalisa ubhaka wakhe ngeparafini wabuyela ecaleni kwetatela ephethe iremote esandleni.UJerry wabuza ukuba ndilungile na.Ndamxelela ukuba ndilungile.IiJets ziyavutha.Kuvakala ngathi yinkanyamba yeCategory 5 idlula kwidrain.Jarry ujika i-throttle engabonakaliyo kwaye ndilinganisa ukunyakaza kwakhe nge-throttle yangempela.Isandi siya sikhula.Uphendulela i-stealth throttle yakhe ngakumbi, ndiphendulele yam.Ngoku isandi sikwi-pitch pitch kwaye ndiva ukutyhala ngasemva kwethole lam. .Ndathatha inyathelo elincinane ukuya phambili ndaza ndadibanisa imilenze yam. (Yiyo loo nto imilenze yabathwali bejetpack iqinile njengamajoni okudlala - nakuphi na ukuphambuka kujeziswa ngokukhawuleza nge-800-degree jet exhaust.) UJarry uxelisa i-throttle engaphezulu, ndiyinika ngakumbi. trottle, kwaye ke ngokucothayo ndiwushiya umhlaba. Akufani nokungabi nabunzima konke konke. Endaweni yoko, ndaziva yonke iponti yam, ukuba kungakanani ukutyhala okuthathiweyo ukundibeka kunye nomatshini.
UJerry wathi mandiye phezulu.Olunye unyawo, emva koko ezimbini, emva koko ezintathu.Njengoko iijethi zazigquma kwaye i-kerosene ivutha, ndajikeleza, ndicinga ukuba yingxolo ephazamisayo kunye nengxaki edadayo kwii-intshi ezingama-36 ukusuka emhlabeni. ifomu, ukubopha umoya kunye mastering ukunyuka, yinto nje brute force.Oku kutshabalalisa isithuba ngobushushu kunye nengxolo.Kwaye kunzima ngokwenene.Ingakumbi xa Jarry undenza ukuhambahamba.
Ukujika ngasekhohlo nasekunene kufuna ukubamba i-yaw — ukubamba kwesandla sam sasekhohlo, esihambisa icala le-exhaust ejethiweyo. Kukodwa, kulula. Kodwa kwafuneka ndiyenze lo gama ndigcina i-throttle ingaguquki ukuze ndingahlali phantsi. i-tarmac efana no-Jesse wenzayo.Akulula ukulungelelanisa i-angle ye-yaw ngelixa ugcina i-throttle iqinile ngelixa ugcina imilenze iqinile kwaye ijonge emehlweni kaJarry e-ecstatic.Ifuna inqanaba lentliziyo yonke yokugxila, endiyithelekisa ne-wave wave surfing. Andizange ndenze i-surfing enkulu.)
Emva koko ukuya phambili nangasemva.Lo ngumsebenzi owahluke ngokupheleleyo nolucelomngeni ngakumbi.Ukuqhubela phambili, umqhubi wenqwelo-moya kwakufuneka asisuse sonke isixhobo.Khawube nomfanekiso-ngqondweni womatshini we-triceps kwindawo yokuzivocavoca.Kwafuneka ndikekele i-jetpack-yonke into esemva-kude umzimba wam.Ukwenza okuchaseneyo, ukutsala isiphatho phezulu, ukusondeza izandla zam emagxeni am, ukuguqula iijethi kumaqatha am, ukundibuyisela umva. Ekubeni ndingazi nto malunga nantoni na, andiyi kuphawula ngobulumko bobunjineli. ;Ndizakuthi andiyithandi kwaye ndinqwenela ukuba ibifana ne-throttle kunye ne-yaw - iyazenzekela, iphendule ngakumbi, kwaye ayinakwenzeka Ukutshisa (cinga i-blowtorch kwibhotolo) ulusu lwamathole am namaqatha.
Emva kokubhabha kovavanyo ngalunye, ndandihla ngezinyuko, ndikhulule isigcina-ntloko sam, ndihlale noWesson noYancey, ndingcangcazela kwaye ndidiniwe. .Xa sabona ukuba i-Jesse yayingcono kancinane, xa ilanga latshona ngaphantsi komgca womthi, saxubusha into esinokuyenza ukuze siyiphucule, kunye noncedo oluqhelekileyo lwalo matshini.Ixesha lokubhabha langoku lifutshane kwaye linzima kakhulu. Kodwa kunjalo nakwaWright Brothers - kwaye emva koko abanye. nabani na ongomnye .Okwangoku, akukho bani unomdla kuyo.Kwiminyaka embalwa yokuqala yovavanyo lwabo lokubhabha, baye bafaka uziphu phakathi koohola beendlela ezimbini eDayton, eOhio.
UMayman noJarry basazifumana belapha.Baye benza umsebenzi onzima wokuyila, ukwakha, kunye nokuvavanya i-jetpack elula kwaye enembile ngokwaneleyo ukuba iRube efana nam ibhabhe kwiimeko ezilawulwayo.Ngotyalo-mali olwaneleyo, banokunciphisa iindleko kakhulu, kwaye mhlawumbi baya kukwazi ukusombulula ingxaki yexesha lokuhamba kunye.Kodwa, okwangoku, inkampu ye-boot ye-Jetpack Aviation inabathengi ababini abahlawulayo, kwaye abanye abantu banika isibini esinombono i-shrug ehlangeneyo.
Kwinyanga yoqeqesho, bendihleli ekhaya ndizama ukuphelisa eli bali xa ndifunda iindaba zokuba i-jetpack ibonwe ibhabha kumgama oziimitha ezingama-5 000 kufutshane nesikhululo seenqwelomoya saseLos Angeles. Umlawuli wetrafikhi yomoya we-LAX, njengoko ibingengowokuqala ukubonwa.Kwavela ukuba ubuncinci ukubona iijetpack ezintlanu zarekhodwa phakathi kuka-Agasti ka-2020 no-Agasti ka-2021 - uninzi lwayo kuMazantsi eCalifornia, kumphakamo ophakathi kwe-3,000 kunye ne-6,000 yeenyawo.
Ndathumela i-imeyile kuMayman ukubuza ukuba yintoni na akwaziyo malunga nesi siganeko, ngethemba lokuba le ndoda ye-jetpack engaqondakaliyo yayinguye. Kuba ndicinga ukuba uyindoda ethembekileyo, ubhabha phezulu kakhulu, kubonakala ngathi i-counterintuitive in airspace, kodwa kwakhona, iCalifornia ayinayo. ingxelo anayo nabani na, singasathethi ke ngokukwazi ukubhabha, ngejetpack.
Iphelile iveki ndingeva nto ngoMayman.Ekuthuleni kwakhe, iithiyori zasendle ziqhakaza. Ewe, ibinguye, ndacinga ukuba nguye kuphela okwaziyo ukubhabha, kwaye nguye yedwa onenjongo. Emva kokuzama ukubhabha. ukubamba ingqalelo yehlabathi ngeendlela ezithe ngqo-umzekelo, iividiyo ze-YouTube kunye neentengiso kwi-Wall Street Journal-wanyanzeliswa ukuba ahambe. I-superhero alter ego uTony Stark, ulinde de kube ngumzuzu ofanelekileyo ukuveza ukuba ibinguye.
“Akwaba bendinombono wokuba kuqhubeka ntoni nge-LAX,” wabhala uMayman.” Ngokungathandabuzekiyo abaqhubi beenqwelo-moya babone into ethile, kodwa ndithandabuza kakhulu ukuba yayiyijetpack esebenza ngejethi-injini yomoya.Babengenawo nje amandla okunyuka ukuya kutsho kuma-3,000 okanye ama-5,000 eenyawo, babhabhe okwethutyana baze behle beze kumhlaba.Mna nje ndicinga ukuba inokuba yidrone yombane ene-mannequin eneflatable ekhangeleka njengomntu onxibe ijetpack.
Enye imfihlakalo emnandi isandula ukunyamalala.Kusenokuba akusayi kubakho amadoda avukelayo abhabha kwi-airspace ethintelweyo, kwaye mhlawumbi asiyi kuba neejetpacks zethu ebomini bethu, kodwa sinokuzinza kumadoda amabini alumke kakhulu ejethi, uMayman noJarry. ngamanye amaxesha uzipholele kwiAvocado Fly ejikeleze ifama, ukuba nje babonisa ukuba banako.
Yonke into kaDave Eggers ipapashwa yiPenguin Books, £12.99.Ukuxhasa iThe Guardian kunye neThe Observer, oda ikopi yakho kuGuardianbookshop.com.Iintlawulo zokuthumela ngenqanawa zinokusebenza.
Ixesha lokuposa: Jan-27-2022