Tech Eye: Spaceships, jetpacks and wookies, oh my

The last few weeks have brought a number of announcements seemingly designed to please the emotionally retarded. In other words, people like us.

First there was the unveiling of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo in the Mojave Desert. For those unfamiliar with the aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo is the "mothership" vehicle for SpaceShipTwo, the spacecraft which will hopefully begin the age of commercial space travel in earnest.

Admittedly, we're getting a little ahead of ourself - SpaceShipTwo isn't expected to be finished for another year or so and passenger flights will begin only after rigorous testing. Even then, the $200,000-per-ticket cost will mean that early space tourists will be a mix of doughy Silicon Valley types and Russian oligarchs' kids. But whatever, the fact that commercial space travel is finally getting off the ground (ha ha) is still worth getting a little spastic about.

Even more exciting news came from the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The event featured aerial acrobatics and man-versus-helicopter wrestling (no, not really), as well as blimps, pedal planes and rocket racers. Harrison Ford was also on hand, although he was neither accompanied by a wookie nor dressed as Indiana Jones. Kind of a pointless visit, really.

Without a doubt, the single most change-of-underwear-inducing part of the airshow was the unveiling of the Martin Jetpack, "the world's first practical jetpack." Inventor Glenn Martin's philosophy of practicality essentially means longer, cheaper flight time than other experimental jetpacks as well as less barbecuing of the pilot's legs and buttocks. That's a philosophy Techeye can get behind.

The first Martin Jetpacks should be available soon and they meet FAA regulations for ultralight aircraft, meaning you don't need a pilot's license (but the manufacturer forces pilot training on you anyway). Each jetpack weighs over 250 lbs (113 kg) - so don't expect to perform ballet with one strapped to your back - and has a fuel capacity of five gallons. The fuel burn is 10 gph, which means you get around a half hour of flight time, but since the gadget runs on premium, available-at-the-pump gasoline, refueling won't be too painful.

The cost of the jetpack? Around $100,000, half the price of a ride on SpaceShipTwo. Not having to share your flight with a bunch of sweaty nerds? Priceless.