Jetlev Southwest, headquartered in Newport Beach, California, frequently caters to executive groups -- particularly from the tech industry -- seeking a novel team-building experience.

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One of the most surprising qualities of the Jetlev is its relative quiet, a tranquil plashing no louder than, say, the fountains at the Bellagio.

WSJ: Jetlev R200 Jetpack: Personal Flight, Beyond Bond

The Jetlev design is still in its early days, says Mr. Katz, and a friendlier, more forgiving control mechanism is certainly on the drawing boards for Jetlev 2.0.

WSJ: Jetlev R200 Jetpack: Personal Flight, Beyond Bond

The apparatus he used, known as the Jetlev R200, is a water-propelled jet pack that can shoot a person 30 feet into the air and run for some 4 hours.

FORBES: Wet And Wild: New World Record Puts Expensive Water Toys In Focus

Until then, the Jetlev has been adopted as a new-age water toy for the wealthy (especially the yachting crowd) granting those who can afford it a truly unique flying experience.

FORBES: Wet And Wild: New World Record Puts Expensive Water Toys In Focus

In 2011, Mr. Li sold out to some Florida-based silent partners, and he now splits his time between Florida and Canada, continuing to develop the Jetlev design while pursuing intellectual-property litigation (there are, in fact, at least two other hydraulically powered flying-machine designs in the world).

WSJ: Jetlev R200 Jetpack: Personal Flight, Beyond Bond