'Star Wars' Fan Made A Real Working Mandalorian Jetpack
Jetpacks have been a staple in the Star Wars franchise for many years. Boba Fett used one in his first appearance in the Star Wars Holiday Special way back in 1978. (Yes, this special is the very first appearance of a jetpack in any Star Wars media.) He does not use it in The Empire Strikes Back despite wearing it, but fans saw him use it in live-action in Return of the Jedi, despite how much of a letdown the action for the bounty hunter in the movie may have been. There was much more jetpack use from his father Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones.
And, of course, we have seen many Mandalorians and even troopers use them in various media across various media, including the TV shows. (And yes, there is also the "They fly now!" scene from The Rise of Skywalker.) Jetpacks have become so synonymous with the term "Mandalorian," so, naturally, there had to be some of them in the TV show The Mandalorian. It takes Din Djarin a little while to acquire his own jetpack, though other Mandalorians are seen using them. But seeing him finally use one was so satisfying to many viewers of the series. It was also very satisfying for fans of the animated content to see Bo-Katan with her jetpack in live-action form, accompanied by a couple of jetpacked Mandalorian allies. We even got to see Cobb Vanth with Boba Fett's jetpack. Later, we got to see Boba Fett retrieve his jetpack, much to the delight of fans who have been waiting for the bounty hunter's triumphant return in live-action.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, we have another case of life imitating art. Over on the YouTube channel Hacksmith Industries, there is a video released a couple of weeks ago about a real life recreation of the jetpack featured in The Mandalorian. This is the fifth in a series of videos showcasing different aspects of the Mandalorian armor. You can check out the video below, where they go through the process of building the jetpack.
Something like this takes a combination of true dedication and the technical know-how to make it feasible. The weight of the person has to be taken into account when figuring out how big the jetpack needs to be and how well the engines would work. The process involves the inclusion of a fire extinguisher and a propane tank. They even acknowledge and take into account how the jetpack is seen flying by itself in the second season of the series, comparing it to SpaceX technology. They really seem to have combed through the episodes and considered all angles when working on this jetpack. The construction of it is truly an amazing feat. Lots of people have imagined what it might be like to use a jetpack in real life, and these people have aimed to bring this and other aspects of the beloved Disney+ series to life.
There is so much to look forward to when it comes to the future of the franchise, especially when it comes to the television side of things. With The Book of Boba Fett premiering on Disney+ in December, and season 3 of The Mandalorian coming out sometime after that, it is a given that we have not seen the last of jetpacks in live-action Star Wars content, and the wait to see them pop up again will not be too long. Whether it be under the use of Boba Fett, Bo-Katan, or Din Djarin, jetpacks are here to stay. This is the way.
Source(s): ComicBook.com