Back the 70's Williams International created the Wasp X Jet. It was given the nickname "The Flying Pulpit". It was a small, single-person, light-weight, Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft. It could move in any direction, accelerate rapidly, hover and rotate on its axis, stay aloft for up to 45 minutes and travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
The Wasp X was evaluated by the United States army in the 1980's but it was deemed inferior to the capabilities of helicopters and small, unmanned aircraft. Supposedly, development of the Wasp X Jet was discontinued but it appears the core idea lived on. Just as many expected.
Here is an old video of the Wasp X - Very impressive for the time frame.
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