March 10, 2010

Post date: Mar 12, 2010 5:56:51 PM

Recently I visited the Hiller Aviation Museum. My favorite exhibit was the 1955 Hiller Flying Platform, which is essentially an upside-down personal helicopter. The pilot balanced himself on the platform and held on tight as the rotors beneath his feet achieved lift-off.

The concept of personal aircraft first caught the public’s imagination in the 1920s when Buck Rogers used a personal rocket pack for travel. In more recent times, jetpacks were featured in the movie “Thunderball” and at the opening ceremonies for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.