Dubai is equipping its firefighters with $35,000 jetpacks

Fighting a fire in a towering skyscraper poses unique challenges for both the equipment and the firefighters. That’s why the fire departments of large cities have dedicated high-rise units–but Dubai wants to do one better by equipping its firefighters with jetpacks. The city is no stranger to high-flying exploits, but it’s hoping this latest venture ends up being more than just a publicity stunt (or an obscene display of wealth). The Dubai Civil Defence has officially placed an order with the Martin Aircraft Company for 20 of its twin-engine jetpacks and two simulators for training purposes. The Martin Jetpack is as close as we’ve come to developing a real-life version of what The Rocketeer strapped to his back. It’s considerably larger than the jetpacks science fiction has promised us, and comes with a hefty $35,000 price tag. But it can also carry over 260 pounds, allowing it to lift a pilot and additional equipment to hard to reach parts of a skyscraper. In an emergency when every second counts, being able to quickly access the upper floors of a building is certainly an advantage.