Talk:1382: Rocket Packs

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Revision as of 04:59, 17 June 2014 by 103.22.201.239 (talk)
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I think long fall boots (from Portal) would probably help with this. 173.245.56.65 04:34, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

-Not so much, they're designed for a completely different purpose. That's like expecting a kevlar vest to protect you against a sword. (They would, however, help if you ran out of fuel in midair.) 173.245.55.83 12:53, 16 June 2014 (UTC)
A kevlar vest would protect you from a sword, if you're stabbed or hit in the chest.173.245.52.198 19:37, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

I was thinking a chair design with the legs pulled out in front might help out. 199.27.133.174 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Wear the jet pack on your chest, avoid calf-burn. But don't mention the genitals. 141.101.104.61 05:13, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

Is it really so hard to invent calf shields? 108.162.221.30 07:53, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

Where is the problem? just reverse front and rear :=) http://www.thefind.com/apparel/info-batwing-chaps 108.162.254.199 10:10, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

The logic and humor of this comic could be extended to the notion of "free" medical care, in a world where people are inclined to try things like rocket packs. 173.245.50.73 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Most practical rockets have the thrust in line with the center of gravity. A jetpack like the one depicted will tend to nose over unless the user sticks his lower legs up into the exhaust to deflect it. Not a great way to travel. Real jetpacks have the nozzles either side to get around this problem. They still have the difficulty of being unable to glide if the engine cuts. If this happens too low to use a parachute, that will spoil the user's day. Jim E (talk) 16:03, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

Why do people keep talking about running out of fuel in midair? When was the last time you ran out of fuel in your car, in between gas stations? Sure, the consequences aren't quite as catastrophic, but my point is that usually people refill their tanks before they run out...Diszy (talk) 21:30, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

Running out of fuel isn't the only reason your car might stall or stop in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes the engine overheats and stops or the accelerator just stops working for no (apparent) reason. If something similar happens to your jetpack when you are 30m in the air, you can expect a few medical bills, if not a visit to your neighborhood mortician. Any good jetpack should come equipped with emergency boosters, but how effective they may be at low heights is still an issue.

Real life rocket packs have flight times as short as 30 seconds in some cases, so running out if fuel and falling to the ground is a very real concern. Jim E (talk) 22:54, 16 June 2014 (UTC)