A step up from jet packs, personal power gliders have recently
become a hot item among recreational flyers, and among those users
of jet packs that are willing to trade sudden deployment for longer
flight.
In form, the gliders appear to be heavy back packs, with a
thin handle attached to either side. When the handles are grasped,
and the glider activated, plasteel wings will shoot out from the
sides, and a modified light ion engine will engage. The handles
hold the controls for the glider, though the pilots body movements
also exert substantial influence on the glider's course. The wings
of the glider are similar to those of a hang glider, though they
are shorter and more streamlined. Many of the companies that
produce these gliders have covered them with flashy paint jobs and
logos, in order to better sell the vehicles to the young thrill
seekers that are their primary market.
The gliders hold up to two hours worth of fuel, though it is
very easy to conserve that energy if slower travel is made, and
thermals and updrafts are used to provide lift. Military versions
of these craft are in production, usually having a larger fuel
supply, and mounting a pair of blaster rifles. However, the skills
required in flying these craft render them useless for all but
elite commando units.