Rocketmen and flying Swedes

By Steve Bax on Sep 26, 08 07:17 PM in On the web

Funny how science fiction eventually becomes science fact. I spotted a story on the BBC website today about a Swede who used a rocket pack combined with a glider to successfully cross the English Channel.

It reminded me of Rocketman (pictured), an atomic age hero from 1940s/50s America, who starred in a 12 part serial that I loved when it was repeated in the early 80s.

Funny enough we were discussing in the newsroom the other day how these old black and white serials were filmed in short (often five minute) episodes - often with a cliffhanger - so that they could be shown in picture houses.

I'm a bit young to remember Saturday morning picture theatres, but I'm told (perhaps wrongly? you tell me) that the films were restricted to five minutes because that was all the film you could fit on a reel.

Other scifi oddities that have become reality: remember the handheld flip-open communicators used by Captain Kirk and co. on Star Trek, a bit like mobile phones don't you think?

I also read that scientists have successfully teleported a molecule from one location to another. Somehow though, I suspect it will be a while before anyone requests a 'beam me up Scotty' or takes a holiday on Mars.

In the meantime a flight with a jet pack sounds fun.