Fancy a journey with a difference? Why not shell out $100,000 for a 75 second trip into the wild blue yonder, courtesy of Thunderbolt Aerosystems ThunderPack Revision-2, Generation-2 (R1G2). This hydrogen peroxide-powered jet pack looks like tons of fun, but I suspect it could easily ruin your day.

At one time or another, I've tried most forms of personal transport – and the only piece of hardware which might compare, from a bygone age admittedly, is one of the scariest motorbikes on two wheels bar none - the Kawasaki KH500 triple. This was a two-stroke, 'three pot' screamer, with a power band the width of a spider's thigh, and handling which required a fair amount of fresh underwear each day.

If you’re working flexibly to avoid the journey into central London and you're in range, then maybe you might consider using the jet pack. Top speed is 75 mph, but there’s only enough fuel for 75 seconds, and no, I don’t know if you’d require a license from the DVLA or the CAA. Since the hardware is a client device and Dan Robinson is the client section editor - i'll leave him to test this piece of hardware.

Those wondering about potential refuelling problems, have a valid point. Going into a chemist to buy hydrogen peroxide nowadays, tends to have shop assistants fingering the emergency alarm quicker than you could say, "bleached hair". What would happen if you asked for hydrogen peroxide of greater than 70 per cent purity at the local chemist? I'll leave that one to your imagination.

OK, for a trained specialist, the jet pack is probably safer than driving down the M25. Me - i'll stick with the KH500 - once described by Bike Magazine's testers as -'Thanatoid' (translation – ‘resembling death’).

05 Feb 2008