Rhino3D has allowed me to design some wild stuff and take it to market. This work was the development of the X-Jets water jetpack, with a rewind on how it got developed. There are a ton of images in this post, expand each selection to see. This is part one.
In 2006-7, the world got its first look at a water thrust powered, mobile pump connected jetpack. An online video from a Canadian inventor named Raymond Li. The whole thing shrouded in secrecy and intrigue.
I grew up with the Lost in Space-real-flying-jetpack-scenes, 007, LA Olympics-opening-ceremony, hydrogen-peroxide-powered, 29 seconds-of-flight, three-in-existence-in-the-whole-world jetpacks, impossible.
I wanted one so bad. I had dreamed of some kind of personal flying every night for decades. However the $130,000 and possible vaporware aspect stopped me in my tracks. Tried to get a couple of friends in Shanghai to go in on it. One said, “You are a designer, why not build one yourself?”. Yeah, perfect, I’ll make one for myself, and I will do it better.
I started to research patents and everything from the previous work done by NASA and even its predecessor, NACA. I started modelling in Rhino 4.0, working out the basics, trying to figure out the system, the controls, the ergonomics, the engineering, how much power was needed, bearings, thrust calculations. Had to start somewhere, I bought a jetski and took apart the pump and started to study.
Frame One, sketches, renderings, photos ....
My favorite method of development, built a rough, to-scale Rhino model of the proposed mechanics. Gray it out, print a bunch of copies, sketch sketch sketch, remodel in Rhino, repeat.
The Powerplant, floating thrust pump pod...
The original plan was to build a custom pod, to be cool, and sleek, and expensive.
Prototype 1, photos
I did a lot of scuba diving up to Rescue Diver, I knew BCD’s and the idea to float a person face up if they lost consciousness. (The existing model had all the flotation on the back, face down float.) I knew my snowboarding friends and the likely sh*t they would get up to. I wanted to build this jetpack as safe as possible.
There is a complicated middle of the story. 
I contact the inventor and tell him about my plan to build one and some of my ideas. He invites me to come work for him in Florida where they are still working on prototypes with no production experience. I buy full jetpack system from his German partner #006 in the world as it turns out, they have taken it and are running with it to production. I work them to try to make it better (it needs a lot of work). I get my foot in the door and try to convince them to make it better, robust, safer, etc. I move to Mallorca and get experience flying and servicing and hand-on experience with the jetpacks. All the while I am modelling in Rhino and sketching with the best views in the world of the Mallorca coast and ocean.
Our visions and methods are not in alignment, I decided to proceed independently and fund the further development and go for it. This could be a business, there is a huge delta from where it is and where it needs to be, and the price it has to come down to.
Prototype 2
Iteration in Rhino continues, Rhino 5 about now. Flamingo renderer as I recall. Now I know the basis, and all the areas that need to be improved. Face up flotation, head protection, closure systems custom made out of stainless, bearing systems that will turn absolutely freely under pressure. The ability to convert a normal jetski into the powerplant. Support to hold your legs from swaying side to side, it is a long list.
There are a lot of production processes and suppliers to line up
Production of the first thrust channels, committed to the design
2012, cannot do an easy prototype of a high pressure part, had to commit to tooling sandcast parts and the world’s slowest rotating lathe jig.
That’s the end of part one. Rhino has been extraordinary throughout my career for realizing concepts and bring them to fruition.
In part two, we will go into the production refinements and rendering integrations. Want to know any details? Ask away!