The Jetsons have arrived. (http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Paratroopers_could_fly_200km_with_new_wings_system _Janes.html)


A new military parachute system which fits wings on soldiers could enable them to travel to 200 kilometres (124 miles) after jumping, Jane's Defence Weekly defence magazine said Friday.
The system, which involves the development of new modular carbon-fibre wings, will mean that aircraft can drop parachutists from 30,000 feet (9,150 metres) into an area of operations without flying into a danger zone.



The site has pop-ups ick, so disable them before you visit it. Otherwise this is a neat article.

Popup free version of the story (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1648903.htm).

30,000 feet is a long, long ways up.

Thanks for the other version Thor, but the website I linked has some other stuff on it too. If you can get past the annoying pop-ups.

Wow, I wonder how this will help the spread of Democracy....
;)

"Spreading Democracy 200km at a time." Catchy.

you have to figure that with the speed you are traveling that you are going to need a pressure suit and oxegyn so the HALO drop makes senses to begin with. in addition it gives you more distance due to the height. as for detectabliltiy it would be minimal but it could be seen, The stealth bomber has a radar signature of about a bird when bomb bay doors are open and those can be seen on radar so a man in a jet pack would be visible to radar, but only to fairly advanced radars.

Rev

Yeah I definitely think a pressure suit is going to be needed, that's what 5miles up? Thin air and it's cold up there too.

It's still very neat.