People have always dreamed of flying... in highly varying intensity.
At the one extreme we got people afraid of flying and never wanting to leave the ground at all - and at the other extreme we have people absolutely obsessed with flying.
But I think we have a reached a point where everyone along that spectrum can get their fill of flying more or less easily.
For a lot of people, taking a commercial flight and getting a window seat might already be enough to scratch that flying itch.
Those who want a bit more than that can easily book a flight in a small propeller plane, or a helicopter or a hot air balloon.
People who want even more can go paragliding, or hang gliding, or sky diving.
And those who want the most extreme flying package they can possibly get - well those people no longer dream of jetpacks - those people do fly wing-suits now.
There's no niche left for the jetpack to fill - every type of flying desire is already being served. And instead of going with a jetpack, you could also choose something that's just as exciting but a lot safer and cheaper - or something that's just as dangerous but a lot more exciting and still cheaper.
The jetpack was more fascinating while it was the most exciting option imaginable, and more longed for, during a time when any kind of flying was just out of reach for most people.
At the one extreme we got people afraid of flying and never wanting to leave the ground at all - and at the other extreme we have people absolutely obsessed with flying.
But I think we have a reached a point where everyone along that spectrum can get their fill of flying more or less easily.
For a lot of people, taking a commercial flight and getting a window seat might already be enough to scratch that flying itch.
Those who want a bit more than that can easily book a flight in a small propeller plane, or a helicopter or a hot air balloon.
People who want even more can go paragliding, or hang gliding, or sky diving.
And those who want the most extreme flying package they can possibly get - well those people no longer dream of jetpacks - those people do fly wing-suits now.
There's no niche left for the jetpack to fill - every type of flying desire is already being served. And instead of going with a jetpack, you could also choose something that's just as exciting but a lot safer and cheaper - or something that's just as dangerous but a lot more exciting and still cheaper.
The jetpack was more fascinating while it was the most exciting option imaginable, and more longed for, during a time when any kind of flying was just out of reach for most people.