Prototype 2: Jet-board - Project: Icarus

       I know it's a little out there, but I've been thinking about this ever since I played games like Sonic Riders as a little kid. However, I'm not looking towards fancy magnets or pseudo-science as seen in science-fiction. Jet engines can be made incredibly tiny, and could provide enough thrust to get a Jet-board off the ground.

Idea 1: Alternate fuels

       Jet engines could easily provide enough thrust, but jet fuel pollutes just as gasoline or biofuel does when it is burned, so a different fuel is needed. I can't go electric, because the battery needed to keep the engines running would probably weigh more than the rider! I'm thinking of using hydrogen, H2, as a fuel. The only product of hydrogen combustion is pure water:

2 x H2 + O2 ---> 2 x H2O

       I do have one concern with this, though... I have read that although hydrogen actually burns slightly less hot than gasoline/jet fuel, but has a possibility of detonating. Is there a way to prevent this?

Idea 2: Ducted exhaust

       While (a) jet engine(s) could easily provide the necessary thrust, having them ll over the board pointed in different directions would be highly impractical and even dangerous. A better way would to have one or a couple mini-engines with a central intake, but have their exhaust routed through pipes to redirect it, with a small micro-controller to control the direction of the outflow using a gyroscope and valves to keep the board upright. This would also be the main control scheme for the user; simply tilting the board where they want to go.

       So, it is a bit of an out-there idea, but I really think it can be a reality. Unfortunately, there are clearly a lot of details to work out. Well, I cannot do it on my own, so I'm most definitely looking for input! ^_^