Formerly from Dunedin, Glenn Martin will be talking about the Martin Jetpack at the Crowne Plaza Queenstown on November 10 at 6pm.
"We have been really keen to get as many South Island events in as we can. We've had a lot of interest from Queenstown," Mr Martin said.
In 1998, Mr Martin founded a company with the specific goal of developing a jetpack that could operate on a "recreational" platform.
Ten years later, the Martin Jetpack was unveiled at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture in the United States.
Before that, the Bell Rocket Belt had led the jetpack market.
"The existing Bell Rocket Belt could only fly for 26 seconds. The Martin Jetpack will fly for up to half an hour," Mr Martin said.
The Martin Jetpack uses unleaded fuel and can reach speeds of up to 100kmh.
A full tank of specialist fuel for the Bell Rocket cost $2000 and carried a maximum weight of 70kg. The Martin Jetpack could carry a real person, Mr Martin said.
"I weigh 100kg and it carries me easily."
The organisers of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand had invited Mr Martin to talk at the 2010 Pickering Lecture Series.
Events have been held in Timaru, Invercargill and Dunedin. The talks in Christchurch and Queenstown will take place this month.
"All the talks have been very successful so far ... It really just gives an overview of all the fun stuff and the funny stories we've encountered in making this idea a reality," he said.
The Martin Jetpack would be available to buy next year.
The success of the product had been bigger than envisaged.
"One thousand six hundred people have emailed through the website. We've had huge interest from government and military organisations."
To date, 3500 orders have been placed for a jetpack unit, each costing $100,000.
"We are talking something like $4 million to $5 million before we have even started marketing," Mr Martin said.
Earlier this year, the Martin Aircraft Co signed a $12 million joint-venture deal with an international aircraft company to build the jetpacks with the aim of making 500 units, generating an annual turnover of $100 million, within three years.
Mr Martin said he hoped the jetpacks would be sold to emergency response organisations as a quick way of providing aid in disaster areas.
Plans for the Martin Jetpack will also be discussed.
Admission to the talk is free.
