8. The Jetpack
Jetpacks have captured imaginations since the 1960s, starring in both sci-fi fantasies and dazzling airshows. The Bell Rocket Belt achieved actual flight, but its limited range—mere seconds in the air—and voracious fuel appetite made it impractical. Today’s jetpacks remain largely experimental, facing major safety and regulatory hurdles that keep them out of everyday life. Dive deeper into jetpack history at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
