This is Tech

Paramount’s Iron Man is receiving overwhelmingly rave reviews from critics and is on track for breaking the $100 Million mark on its opening weekend. Tony Stark, the comic book scientist behind the metal outfit is a hero without any innate supernatural abilities. New Scientist explores the scientific reality behind the technology:

Flying machines

Of course, the coolest thing about Stark’s suit is not its strength but its ability to fly. In the film, Stark zooms to Afghanistan, just in the nick of time to stop warlords killing a group of poor villagers.

It couldn’t reach Afghanistan, perhaps, but SoloTrek was a flying exoskeleton that was apparently capable of travelling more than 200 kilometres. (The project shut down after a crash in 2002.)