Jetpack The Ultimate Guide to Flight Suits & WordPress

The word “Jetpack” fires the imagination. For many, it conjures images of science-fiction heroes soaring through cityscapes, a symbol of a future that always seems just around the corner. For others, it’s a powerful digital tool that lives inside their website, a Swiss Army knife for security and performance. And for some, it’s a small device in their bag that keeps them connected to the internet on the go.

The truth is, “Jetpack” is all of these things. The term has evolved, co-opted by different industries for different purposes, leading to a fair bit of confusion. Are jetpacks real? Is the plugin free? Is it a router? The answer to all these questions is, in its own way, yes. This guide will navigate the skies, cyberspace, and the cellular network to demystify the jetpack in all its forms, giving you the definitive answer to what a jetpack is, what it does, and whether you need one.

The Dream vs. Reality of Personal Flight: Will Jetpacks Ever Exist for the Masses?

The question “Will jetpacks ever exist?” is one of the most common queries, but it’s slightly misleading. The better question is, “Will jetpacks ever be a common, affordable mode of transportation for the average person?” Based on the current state of technology, economics, and physics, the answer is almost certainly no.

Real, working jet suits do exist, but they are not consumer products. They occupy a hyper-niche market for military and government agencies, emergency services, and “experience” providers who cater to the ultra-wealthy. Companies like Gravity Industries and Jetpack Aviation have business models built around military contracts and high-priced flight training, not selling personal commuters at a local dealership.1 This is because the barriers to mass adoption aren’t just high; they are fundamentally interwoven with the laws of physics.

How Much Does a Real Jetpack Cost? The Six-Figure Price Tag

The single biggest barrier to personal jetpack ownership is the astronomical cost. These are not just expensive; they are in the realm of supercars and luxury yachts.

• The Gravity Industries Jet Suit, famously piloted by its inventor Richard Browning, comes with a staggering price tag of $447,000.3
• Jetpack Aviation, a key player in the field, offers several models. The JB10 was priced at $295,000 and the JB11 at $340,000 in recent years, with newer models simply listed as “Price Upon Request,” a hallmark of extreme exclusivity.5
• The projected initial cost for the Daedalus Flight Pack was $250,000.7

For those who want the thrill without the purchase, flight experiences are available. Jetpack Aviation offers a two-day training course for $4,950, where trainees can fly tethered in a controlled environment.2 It’s crucial, however, to distinguish these turbine-powered suits from the more common and accessible “water jetpacks.” These recreational devices, which use water propulsion from a connected jet ski, can be rented for as little as $65 to $150 for a short flight, offering a taste of flight without the six-figure investment.8

Are Jet Suit Suits Real? The Technology Behind the Flight

Yes, jet suits are very real, representing a marvel of engineering. They are not powered by magic, but by raw, controlled power. The leading designs operate using multiple, miniaturized jet turbine engines that run on conventional fuels like Jet A-1 (kerosene) or diesel.1

The Gravity Industries suit, for example, generates over 1,000 horsepower from several micro-turbines mounted on the pilot’s back and arms.1 Control is remarkably intuitive; the pilot steers by moving their arms, directing the thrust to maneuver through the air with precision.11

The models from Jetpack Aviation, like the JB11, use a different approach. They are powered by six turbojet engines, each producing around 90 pounds of thrust, and are controlled via joysticks on the armrests that allow for six-degrees-of-freedom movement.6

The performance of these machines is breathtaking. They can reach speeds of over 120 mph and achieve altitudes of up to 15,000 feet, though they are typically flown much lower for safety.6 The current Guinness World Record holder, Richard Browning, hit a top speed of

85.06 mph in his Gravity suit.13

This technology is distinct from related personal flight concepts. Standard wingsuits are unpowered gliders; they use fabric membranes between the limbs to catch the air, converting a vertical fall into horizontal flight, but they cannot gain altitude on their own.14 However, the lines are blurring with the emergence of experimental powered wingsuits, such as the electric-impeller model developed with BMW and the foil-assisted suit from Red Bull, which aim to extend flight time and performance.15 A separate category exists for

underwater jetpacks, which use propellers to move a user through water, not air.3

Why Aren’t We All Flying Jetpacks? The Hard Limits of Physics and Fuel

The reason jetpacks have “never taken off” for mass transit comes down to a cascade of interlocking physical and economic constraints that start with fuel. The core problem is the low energy density of existing liquid fuels.19

To achieve flight, a jetpack must generate enough thrust to lift the pilot, the pack itself, and all of its fuel. This requires burning a tremendous amount of fuel very quickly. The Gravity Industries suit, for instance, consumes roughly a gallon of jet fuel per minute of flight.21 An investigation by Google’s “X” lab found fuel consumption could be as high as 940 liters per 100 km, or about one-quarter of a mile per gallon.19

This inefficiency directly leads to the single greatest limitation: extremely short flight times. Even the most advanced turbine suits have a maximum endurance of only about 5 to 10 minutes.7 The older, peroxide-fueled rocket belts of the 1960s could only stay airborne for about 30 seconds.19

This creates a vicious cycle. To fly longer, you need more fuel. But more fuel adds more weight, which requires more thrust to lift, which in turn burns fuel even faster.19 Without a revolutionary breakthrough in energy storage—something far more potent than batteries and far denser than kerosene—this fundamental barrier will remain. This is why, despite over 60 years of development, the jetpack remains a novelty rather than a practical vehicle.24 Added to this are the issues of deafening noise, the inherent danger of flying without safety equipment like a parachute, and the sheer difficulty of mastering flight, all of which contribute to their impracticality.19

Who Actually Uses Jetpacks? (Military, Astronauts, and Stuntmen)

While you won’t see jetpacks in a commuter lane, they do have a few highly specialized, real-world applications.

Military and Emergency Services: The most visible user is the military. The Royal Navy has conducted widely publicized trials with Gravity Industries, testing the jet suit’s potential for maritime boarding operations—allowing a marine to launch from a fast boat and land on the deck of a larger vessel in seconds.1 The media coverage often paints a picture of imminent deployment, using “Iron Man” comparisons.22 However, the official military assessment is more cautious. A Royal Navy press release stated that while the technology shows “significant promise,” experts concluded that “the kit is not ready just yet for military adoption”.28 The trials are about exploring future capabilities, not deploying a field-ready device. Similar tests have been conducted with paramedics in the UK’s Lake District to see if a jet suit could help them reach inaccessible casualties faster.1

Astronauts in Space: Perhaps the most critical use of a jetpack happens hundreds of miles above Earth. NASA astronauts performing spacewalks outside the International Space Station (ISS) wear a device called SAFER (Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue).29 SAFER is a small, self-contained nitrogen-gas thruster system built into the life support backpack. It is an emergency-only device. If an astronaut were to become untethered and float away from the station, they could use SAFER’s small hand controller to fly back to safety.29 It’s a slimmed-down, modern version of the much larger Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) that was famously tested during the Space Shuttle era in the 1980s but was later deemed an unnecessary risk.12

Pop Culture and Stunts: Jetpacks have a long history in entertainment. The most famous example is Michael Jackson, who appeared to fly out of stadiums wearing a jetpack at the end of his shows on the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. This was a clever illusion; Jackson was switched with a stunt double who performed the flight.32 Today, companies like Gravity Industries and Jetpack Aviation perform at events and have set official Guinness World Records, continuing the jetpack’s legacy as a spectacular stunt machine.11

Are Jetpacks Legal? The Wild West of Personal Aviation

If you have a spare half-million dollars, can you legally buy and fly a jetpack? The answer is complicated. Ownership is possible, but operation is a regulatory gray area.

In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) does not have a specific set of regulations for personal jet suits.34 The technology is so new and niche that it doesn’t fit neatly into existing categories. It is likely that if they were to become more common, they would be regulated under a framework for “new and novel aircraft,” probably in a high-risk “Certified” category similar to the one for large, commercial drones.35 For now, you cannot simply fly one down the street. Any flight would require extensive coordination and approval.

The United States offers a glimpse into a potential regulatory path. Jetpack Aviation offers its devices in two categories. The “Ultralight” version is speed- and fuel-limited and, under FAA rules, can be flown without a pilot’s license. The “Experimental” version has no such limits but requires the pilot to hold at least a sports pilot license and complete the company’s mandatory training program.6 This suggests a future where personal flight is possible but will be governed by strict licensing, training, and operational restrictions.

The Other “Jetpack”: Your WordPress Website’s All-in-One Power Tool

If you’ve searched for “Jetpack” and aren’t looking for a flight suit, you have likely encountered the other, far more common meaning of the word: the hugely popular plugin for WordPress websites. This Jetpack doesn’t use kerosene; it’s a digital toolkit designed to handle your site’s security, performance, and growth. Developed by Automattic, the same company behind WordPress.com, it aims to bring a suite of powerful features into a single, manageable package.37

What is the Jetpack Plugin and Do You Really Need It?

Jetpack is an all-in-one plugin that bundles over 30 different features, or “modules,” into one installation. Its goal is to simplify website management by eliminating the need to install, update, and manage dozens of separate plugins for functions like security scans, backups, social media sharing, and site analytics.38

The central debate around Jetpack boils down to a classic trade-off: convenience versus control.

The convenience factor is Jetpack’s greatest strength. For a beginner, freelancer, or small business owner, installing one plugin that handles most essential tasks is incredibly appealing. It’s developed and maintained by the creators of WordPress, ensuring regular updates and strong compatibility.38 Furthermore, it offloads resource-intensive tasks, like calculating related posts or scanning for malware, to Automattic’s powerful servers, which can prevent your own hosting from slowing down.38

However, this convenience comes at the cost of control and, potentially, performance. Critics often label the plugin as “bloated” because it’s a large package, and even if you only activate a few modules, it can still add weight to your site.38 Our testing shows that with default settings, it can increase page size from 48.7 KB to 131 KB and more than double the number of HTTP requests.38 Another key consideration is that to use its core features, you must connect your site to a WordPress.com account, which involves sharing site data with Automattic’s servers—a privacy concern for some.39

Ultimately, whether you need Jetpack depends on your priorities. If you value simplicity and a single, trusted source for your site’s core functions, it’s an excellent choice. If you are a power user who demands granular control and wants to squeeze every last drop of performance out of your site, you might be better served by building a custom stack of specialized plugins.

Is Jetpack Security Enough? A Look at Backups, Malware Scans, and Protection

For many users, security is the primary reason to install Jetpack. The plugin offers a comprehensive suite of security tools, especially in its paid plans, designed to protect your site from common threats.40

The main features include:

• Jetpack VaultPress Backup: This is one of the most highly regarded features. On paid plans, it provides automated, real-time backups of your entire site. Every change you make is saved to Jetpack’s secure cloud servers. If your site is hacked or an update breaks something, you can restore it to a previous state with a single click.37
• Jetpack Scan: The plugin automatically scans your site for malware and other code threats. If a problem is found, you receive an instant email alert, and in many cases, you can fix the issue with one click.37
• Akismet Anti-spam: Powered by Akismet, this module automatically filters spam from your comments and contact forms, saving you hours of manual moderation.37
• Brute Force Attack Protection: This free feature automatically blocks login attempts from millions of known malicious IP addresses, protecting your login page from being compromised.41
• Downtime Monitoring: Another free feature, this service checks your site every few minutes and emails you instantly if it goes down, so you can address the problem before your visitors notice.43

So, is this security suite enough? For most personal blogs and small business websites, the features offered in the paid Jetpack Security plan provide robust and sufficient protection. However, it’s important to note that some dedicated security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri offer more advanced features, particularly a more powerful Web Application Firewall (WAF) that can block malicious traffic before it even reaches your site.44 While Jetpack’s security is very good, users with high-traffic e-commerce stores or sites handling highly sensitive data may want to compare it against these specialist alternatives.

Jetpack Free vs. Paid: Is It Worth the Cost?

Jetpack operates on a classic freemium model. The free version is powerful and provides enough value to get installed on millions of websites, creating a massive user base that can then be upsold to premium plans.37

The Free Jetpack Plugin Includes:

The core plugin is free to install and use, and it comes packed with valuable features that would otherwise require multiple plugins 43:

• Security: Brute force attack protection and downtime monitoring.
• Performance: A Content Delivery Network (CDN) for images (formerly known as Photon) to speed up load times, and lazy loading for images.
• Traffic & Stats: Basic site statistics to track views and top posts, social sharing buttons, and XML sitemaps for SEO.
• Content Tools: Features like tiled galleries, carousels, and the ability to embed content from other sites.

The Paid Jetpack Plans Unlock Critical Features:

While the free features are great, the most critical functions for any serious website are reserved for the paid plans.45

• Jetpack Security Plan (starts at $9.95/mo, billed yearly): This is the most popular bundle. It includes everything in the free plan plus the essential security trio: VaultPress Backup (real-time backups), Jetpack Scan (automated malware scanning and one-click fixes), and Akismet Anti-spam (advanced spam filtering).40
• Jetpack Complete Plan (starts at $24.95/mo, billed yearly): This top-tier plan includes all security features plus advanced performance and growth tools like VideoPress (ad-free video hosting), advanced Site Search, Jetpack CRM, and higher limits for things like spam filtering and site stats.47
• Individual Products: You can also purchase key features like VaultPress Backup or Jetpack Scan as standalone subscriptions.47

A key point of distinction is Jetpack Stats. While available for free on non-commercial sites, commercial websites (those with ads, affiliate links, or selling products) with more than 1,000 monthly views will find their stats limited and will need to upgrade to a paid plan to unlock the full dashboard.49

Is it worth it? If your website is a business, the Jetpack Security plan is a strong value proposition. The cost of real-time backups and automated malware removal is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and protection it provides.

Jetpack Alternatives: The Best-of-Breed vs. The All-in-One

For WordPress users who prefer to have the best possible tool for each individual job rather than an all-in-one solution, there is a thriving ecosystem of plugins that serve as excellent alternatives to Jetpack’s modules. Building your own “stack” of plugins gives you more control and can often lead to better performance, though it requires more effort to manage.

Clearing the Confusion: Jetpack, Jump Pack, or Mobile Hotspot?

To add to the complexity, the word “jetpack” is used in other contexts that often appear in search results, leading to further confusion.

Jetpack vs. Jump Pack: A Sci-Fi and Gaming Distinction

In the world of science fiction and video games (like Star Wars or Halo), a distinction is often made between a “jetpack” and a “jump pack.” Generally, a jetpack allows for sustained, continuous flight, enabling a character to hover and fly freely. A jump pack, on the other hand, typically provides a single, powerful burst of thrust for a high jump or a long leap, but does not allow for true flight.59 In the real world, this distinction is less relevant as both concepts fall under the broad umbrella of personal flight devices.

Is a Jetpack a Router? The Verizon Mobile Hotspot Explained

If you’ve ever searched for internet solutions, you may have seen the “Verizon Jetpack.” This is not a personal flight device. “Jetpack” is a trademarked brand name that Verizon uses for its line of mobile hotspot devices.62

A mobile hotspot is a small, portable router. It takes a cellular signal (like 4G LTE or 5G) and converts it into a private Wi-Fi network that you can use to connect other devices, like your laptop, tablet, or gaming console, to the internet.63 It has its own battery and data plan and is incredibly useful for travelers, remote workers, or anyone who needs a reliable internet connection on the go. So, while it is a type of router, it has absolutely nothing to do with flying.

The Final Verdict: Is a Jetpack Worth It?

After exploring the skies, cyberspace, and cellular networks, we can finally answer the ultimate question: is a jetpack worth it? The answer entirely depends on which jetpack you mean.

• For Personal Flight: For the vast majority of humanity, a personal jet suit is not worth it. With a price tag approaching half a million dollars and a flight time of less than 10 minutes, it remains a fantastical dream or a tool for highly specialized organizations. It is worth it only for the military units exploring next-generation tactical advantages or the wealthy thrill-seeker looking for the experience of a lifetime.
• For Your WordPress Website: The Jetpack plugin presents a more nuanced choice. It is absolutely worth it for the WordPress user who values convenience, simplicity, and an all-in-one solution from a highly trusted developer. The peace of mind from the paid security and backup features alone can justify the cost. However, it may not be worth it for the power user, the performance enthusiast, or the site owner on a strict budget, as a carefully selected stack of best-in-class standalone plugins can deliver superior results and greater control.
• For Mobile Internet: A Verizon Jetpack (or any other brand of mobile hotspot) is unequivocally worth it for anyone who needs reliable, portable internet for multiple devices. For remote work, family road trips, or as a backup to your home internet, it is an invaluable tool for modern connectivity.

So, which Jetpack brought you here today? The one that soars through the clouds, the one that powers your website, or the one that keeps you online? Let us know in the comments below.