a man with a jetpack and helmet

Rescue by Air?
Doctors with jet packs may be able to get to injured hikers in just 90 seconds. 

YouTube//Gravity Industries

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It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!  It’s . . . a Doctor

Doctors in England may have a new way to help injured hikers: Strap on a jet pack and fly.  

locator map of Lake District in England

Jim McMahon/Mapman ®

    You’re out for a hike deep in the hills. It’s a beautiful day, and the views are fantastic

    But while you’re checking out the sights, your foot hits a loose rock. In a second, you’re on the ground. A lump is growing on your head. And your ankle feels like it’s been smashed with a hammer.

    Your dream day has turned into a nightmare.

    But wait! You make a quick call to 911, andwhat’s that in the sky? It’s a guy with a helmet and a backpack. He has jets attached to his wrists, and he’s . . . flying

    You blink. You check the lump on your head. It must be worse than you thoughtbecause it looks like Iron Man has come to save you.

Taking Off

    That scene might soon be more than a dream. But it won’t be a superhero coming to rescue you. It’ll be a doctor with a jet pack.

    An ambulance service in England tested this plan last fall. The service works in a beautiful, hilly area called the Lake District. Thousands of people go hiking there every month. Dozens get hurt a long way from the nearest road

    An inventor named Richard Browning had a solution. Last September, he met officials from the ambulance service in the hills. He strapped on a backpack full of fuel and medical supplies. He had one engine on his back and two on each wrist

    With a loud whoosh, he fired up the engines and took off. In 90 seconds, he was high on the hillside. On foot, the trip would have taken 25 minutes.

Flying to School?

    If doctors start flying around England, it will be a welcome sight. Jet packs have been around for more than 60 years. But no one has found a good use for them. The problem is they don’t go very far. Browning’s jet pack can fly for only 6 or 7 minutes at a time

    Several companies are working on new designs. They want to make jet packs cheaper and easier to use. In the meantime, you can buy one. But it’ll cost you $450,000

    Chances are, you won’t be flying to school anytime soon

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Weird But True

Higher Level: It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's . . . a Doctor?

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Weird But True

Lower Level: It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's . . . a Doctor?

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