To Infinity and beyond

Glen Martin is an inventor from Christchurch who has invented a super powered fan jet pack. It has taken him 30 years at a cost of $12 million to complete this project. In the past Glen Martin has experimented with other jet packs but they only have been able to hop along the ground.


People in the United States of America just laughed at the invention when they saw it. It was first shown at the Oshkosh air show 3 years ago. However the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was very interested.In July people from Abu Dhabi are coming to visit the company that made the jet pack.


A few days ago the jet pack had it’s first test flight over the Canterbury plains. A crash -test dummy called George Jetson was used to pilot the jet pack on it’s test flight. The jet pack was piloted by remote control and it flew to 5000 feet. A rocket propelled parachute was used to land it safely on the ground.


At the moment the jet pack is under going a testing period.This is to make sure it is safe, that it can perform at high speeds and to make any changes to the technology. The company needs more money and is looking for investors.


The jet pack has been described by Glen Martin as a fun machine, but it has a serious use as well. It could be used for search and rescue operations. The U.S military and the Japanese have shown interest in the jet pack since the terrible earthquake in Japan.

Inventions and inventors

From the 19th century to the present day cars have slowly changed, for example: the first car, designed by Karl Benz in 1888 only had three wheels. Today most cars have four! Karl Benz' first car doesn't have a roof on the top of it , and an electric starter and also can carry two passengers







By the early 1900’s people were making cars in France and the U.S. Cars were much bigger and much better.
Cars today are faster then they were before and a lot more powerful. These cars are designed for safety and comfort.


“ Henry Ford opened factories in 1911, then they opened a factory in Denmark in 1923. Henry Ford was one of the first manufacturers to use an assembly line. The assembly line helped the factory workers produce cars safer and faster.


“I think in the future cars won’t have to use fuel like we use today, but instead we might use electricity to power them.