DENVER -- It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a … gum-laden jetpack?
Denver-based Apollo Energy Gum has recently been making some deliveries via an 800-horsepower jetpack, surprising retailers, customers and curious onlookers alike when touching down at locations such as a 7-Eleven store and Union Station in downtown Denver.
The company partnered with Apollo Flight Labs, also of Denver, on a project it says is “the future of clean, fast-acting energy with the world’s first jetpack delivery service.”
Apollo’s Energy Gum is sugarless and contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, promising a healthy, portable energy boost.
Apollo Flight Labs pilots Nick Macomber and Eric Scott are responsible for flying the Apollo jetpacks, which are propelled by steam and oxygen, producing no flame or carbon exhaust. Upon landing, the pilot removes a box of Apollo gum from a special harness and hands it to the customer.
The company said the service is a "more cutting-edge" version of Amazon’s drone-delivery service, which is still under development.
Not all of Apollo's deliveries are made via jetpack. "As we add more chains and distributors and build more jetpacks, we will definitely plan more and more delivery flights," said Ryan Darling, digital marketing manager for Apollo.
Though the deliveries are currently limited to Denver, Apollo plans to launch a worldwide tour of the deliveries to promote the gum.
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