Experimental Jetpack Developer 'Pete Pilot' Pursues Personal Aviation with Turbine-Powered Wearable Aircraft

Developer Pete Pilot has been building an experimental turbine-powered personal jetpack since the late 1990s, aimed at vertical takeoff and runway-free flight.

Original report
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Industry impact

The project signals continued grassroots experimentation in personal vertical-lift aviation, a niche segment still constrained by regulatory frameworks rather than technology alone.

A pilot identified as Pete Pilot has been developing an experimental personal jetpack designed for vertical takeoff, controlled hover, and agile maneuvering without a runway or aviation infrastructure, with work on the project beginning in the late 1990s. The device is built around a compact turbine engine and lightweight composite materials, incorporating automatic stabilization algorithms, an emergency parachute deployment system, and backup power systems, with control handled through wearable blade-pitch joysticks paired with motion sensors that translate body movements into thrust and directional changes.

Early flight tests conducted in controlled environments demonstrated stable hover, smooth altitude transitions, and obstacle avoidance, though no commercial launch date has been announced and the project remains in an iterative testing phase involving engineers, testers, and regulatory stakeholders. Pilot has cited urban congestion, climate pressures, and advances in electric propulsion as factors making personal aerial transit increasingly viable, while acknowledging that current regulatory frameworks restrict widespread use.