Rocketwoman!

Mexico City tinkerer Juan Manuel Lozano has been feted by Popular Science and the Discovery Channel for his rocket belts. But flying death-traps and goofy costumes are a family business for Lozanos, apparently. Last summer, Juan Manuel's daughter, Isabel, became "the first 'Rocketwoman' in the world to fly in a Rocket Belt!"

Building the contraption starts with taking "a plaster mold of her body to make the carbon fiber corset," Senor Lozano notes. Then comes "painting the corset in a Bougainvillea color to give it that feminine touch!"

He adds, "The finished Rocket Belt.. might look like some kind of space toy for a Barbie doll, but this is real and my daughter Isabel is the pilot."

The Lozanos' company,
Technologia Aeroespacial Mexicana, will sell you a "complete turn-key package of a flying rocket belt, custom-made to the pilot’s weight and body size. (up to 300 lbs. / 136 Kg)." That includes...

1. A fully-tested, custom-made flying rocket belt,

2. This belt has been proved to be the most stable design and easier to fly

3. A special machine to make our own unlimited supply of rocket fuel

4. Hands-on training in the process and the equipment

5. Flight training of 10 flights in your own rocket belt

6. Maintenance and setup training

7. 24/7 expert support

8. Housing and food are included during training

"Amazing stuff," say our pals over at Wired's Gadget Lab. But scrolling down the Lozano site "gets a little worrying."

Be aware of people that offer plans, parts or a rocket belt that has not flown and tested because you will be killed.

The Lozanos have a bunch of rocket belt videos posted to their site. Some look real – like the ones in which the fliers are held to the ground by a tether. Others... well, you decide for yourself.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=