"Can't Be Done"

Ep. 88: Building the Superpower of Personal Flight—with David Mayman of JetPack Aviation

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If you’ve ever wished you could fly, your dream is within reach. The jetpack industry, though still small, has developed to a point where a handful of startups are consistently carrying out safe flights and building businesses around the superpower most of us have daydreamed about, but never recognized as a realistic possibility.

David Mayman is the founder, CEO and Chief Test Pilot of JetPack Aviation, the undisputed leader in turbine-powered, VTOL aircraft. With more than a decade of experience refining its technology, JetPack is the first company to design and manufacture a true jetpack for personal flight, creating an entirely new aviation market for individuals, corporations and military clients.

Today, David joins us to discuss the business case for personal flight via jetpack. He speaks to the other players in the space, explaining why the industry is slow to grow and how to get into the business through partnerships with manufacturers. Listen in for David’s insight into the chief consumer fears around flying jetpacks and learn how close we are to engineering completely safe, autonomous machines for use by the general public!

Topics Covered

David’s path to JetPack Aviation

Flew plane before drove, dreams of personal flight
Career in commerce and investments in tech space
Capital to further flight education

The bureaucratic process to do a proper test flight

6 months of negotiation to fly around Statue of Liberty
Much easier after establish track record

The other players in the personal flight space

Richard at Gravity Industries
Franky at Flyboard Air
Yves Rossy

Why the jetpack space is slow to grow

Expensive hardware ($12K to $60K/engine)
Time consuming to build on own

How to hack the space without capital

Build relationships with manufacturers
Vision of your ability to innovate

The business case for jetpacks

Education and entertainment (i.e.: Red Bull events)
Experience Center training facility

The chief consumer fears around flying jetpacks

Heat of engines and flight safety
Falling out of sky

What needs to happen for jetpacks to be commonplace

Completely safe, autonomous machines
Use to commute and transport items

David’s definition of success

Change status quo
Motivated when told can’t be done

Connect with David

JetPack Aviation https://jetpackaviation.com/

JetPack on Twitter https://twitter.com/jetpackaviation

JetPack on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jetpackaviation

JetPack on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/jetpackaviation

JetPack on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jetpackaviation/

David on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmayman/

Resources

1984 Olympics Opening Ceremony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WWDnOiQR7A

AJ Forsythe https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajforsythe

Gravity Industries https://gravity.co/

Zapata Flyboard Air https://zapata.com/air-products/flyboardair

Yves Rossy http://www.jetman.com/loft/

Own the Sky Documentary http://paperbarkfilms.com/films/own-the-sky/

‘What Crossing the Arctic Taught This VC About Entrepreneurship’ by Collin West https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/288830

Connect with Boost VC

Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/

Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

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"Can't Be Done"By Adam Draper
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