Avwatch, Martin Aircraft sign formal agreement to market Jetpacks in North America

PLYMOUTH, Mass. - July 20, 2016 - PRLog -- Avwatch (www.avwatch.us), a Plymouth, MA business delivering aerial reconnaissance, real-time full motion video and tactical networking services to government and commercial clients, today announced that it has signed a formal alliance agreement with New Zealand based Martin Aircraft Company (AXJ:MJP) to introduce Jetpacks to the North American market.

The two companies have been working together for more than a year, planning for the eventual introduction of the Jetpack to this market. The formal agreement between the two parties means that Avwatch and Martin Aircraft Company will work together to develop specific capabilities for the North American First Responder and Homeland Security sectors, which are key markets for the First Responder Martin Jetpack. Tentative plans call for the first Jetpack to arrive in Plymouth in early 2017 subject to certain commercial criteria being met.

Martin Aircraft Company will train Avwatch pilots and mechanics to safely fly and maintain the Jetpacks and will help Avwatch establish a U.S. training, support and service center based in Plymouth.

The Martin Jetpack, the world's first practical jetpack, encompasses many applications, including search and rescue, military, recreational and commercial.  The Martin Jetpack offers significant capabilities and is able to be flown either by a pilot or via remote control.

Chris Kluckhuhn, Chief Executive Officer of Avwatch, said that he anticipates this innovative airborne technology will be used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Defense, and other Federal, state and local agencies.

The two companies will work together on improving and demonstrating specific capabilities targeted at assisting the first responder sector, including search and rescue, security, law enforcement, ambulance, fire and natural disaster recovery through the purchase and supply of Martin Jetpacks and relevant products and services.

Named as one of Time magazine's Top 50 inventions for 2010 (http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,...), the Martin Jetpack is the world's first practical jetpack, set to revolutionize the industries of aviation, recreation and transportation.

The Martin Jetpack was initially developed in 1981 in response to another jetpack that had a one-minute flight-time limit; the current version is being designed to travel at speeds up to 46 mph (74 km/h) and have a flight duration of over 30 minutes.  The Jetpack can be flown manned and also be used as a first responder unmanned aerial vehicle.

In a statement from Martin Aircraft, Chief Executive Officer Peter Coker said, "We are extremely pleased to have arrived at this formal agreement to work alongside a very experienced Avwatch team to provide Jetpacks and to continue to build a strong working relationship in North America."

"It is with great pleasure that we announce this exciting partnership with Martin Aircraft Company," said Kluckhuhn, noting that Avwatch plans to purchase a number of manned and unmanned Jetpacks to enhance their capabilities. "We are proud to work in collaboration with this innovative company and look forward to bringing its unique technology to the North American market."

About the Martin Aircraft Company Limited

Martin Aircraft Company Limited (Martin Aircraft) is currently developing the Martin Jetpack, the world's first practical jetpack, with potential search and rescue, military, recreational and commercial applications, both manned and unmanned. The Martin Jetpack was initially conceived and developed by Glenn Martin in Dunedin in 1981. This led to the founding of Martin Aircraft Company in 1998.

The Martin Jetpack is a disruptive technology, much like the helicopter was when first developed, with significant capabilities and is able to be flown either by a pilot or via remote control.  The Jetpack can take off and land vertically (VTOL) and because of its small dimensions, it can operate in confined spaces (such as close to or in between buildings), near trees or in confined areas.

More detailed information about Martin Aircraft and the Martin Jetpack is available at www.martinjetpack.com

About Avwatch, Inc.

Avwatch, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), develops, manufactures and employs aerial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) communication technologies to support, enhance, and train Federal, state, and local government agencies in support of various homeland security missions. The company's unique aerial communication network permits homeland security professionals the freedom to interact directly between air and ground assets, including generating flight routes, specifying intelligence requirements, controlling onboard camera sensors, and sending and receiving audio, video, and text over a distributed, interactive network.  Communications between ground users, vehicles, dismounted individuals, and aircraft are internet-supported, allowing users and aircraft to communicate in real time, anywhere in the world.

The company was founded in 2008 and is comprised of nationally recognized Homeland Security experts who are well-versed in military, Federal, state and local disaster response planning and response protocols. Avwatch technology has been used by emergency responders in various events including the 2010 explosion on BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, Hurricane Irene in 2011, Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the 2015 Boston Marathon and the 2016 NFL Super Bowl. Avwatch provides homeland security professionals and corporations with a low-cost solution capable of conducting routine patrols efficiently and effectively. Avwatch maintains headquarters at Plymouth, MA and serves a national client base.

More detailed information about Avwatch, Inc. is available at http://www.avwatch.us

(Photo courtesy Martin Aircraft Company Limited)