Eric Scott sets world's fastest jet pack record

We all remember James Bond making a daring escape by strapping on a jet pack and flying over the baddies in the hit movie Thunderball. Okay, maybe most of today's youth won't remember that one, but the vision of Iron Man streaking through the skies in his rocket powered suit is still pretty fresh in our silver screen memories. While jet packs may not be feasible, or very practical, due to the limitations of current technology, the idea of a man flying through the air without actually being inside an aircraft has held the public imagination for some time now. While not practical, a few functioning jet packs (or rocket belts as they're sometime called) can be found providing entertainment at shows and fairs around the world.

This month, at the Motorfair auto show that took place at the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland, 46-year old Go Fast! Jet Pack pilot Eric Scott attempted to set the world record for the world's fastest jet pack run. The man from Denver had already become the first jet-propelled man to cross the 1,053 ft. wide Royal Gorge Canyon in his home state of Colorado last year. At Knockhill, he spent a couple of days trying to beat his previous record, but due to adverse weather conditions like a strong wind and rain, he could only manage 43 mph (69.2 km/h) from his hydrogen-peroxide powered jet pack. On his last attempt however, the weather improved and Scott became the fastest jet-propelled man alive as he was clocked at 68 mph (109.4 km/h) going down the straight at the Knockhill circuit. And as a follow up to the record breaking run, Scott also had a drag race against BTCC champion Gordon Shedden, who was driving the latest generation Ford Focus RS. And who won? It was close, but the flying man just managed to inch ahead of car guy. Now these are the kind of races we'd like to see more of.