Flying a Jetpack Over the Channel

Posted by Miss Cellania in Travel & Places on September 26, 2008 at 9:46 am


Swiss pilot Yves Rossy of Switzerland (previously at Neatorama) flew 22 miles over the English Channel from Calais to Dover today, wearing a jet-propelled wing! The entire trip, which had been postponed twice, took only ten minutes on.

The 49-year-old flew on a plane to more than 8,200ft (2,500m), ignited jets on a wing on his back, and jumped out.

Mr Rossy had hoped to reach speeds of 125mph.

It felt “great, really great”, said Mr Rossy: “I only have one word, thank you, to all the people who did it with me.”

The stunt was broadcast live on the National Geographic Channel. Link -Thanks, Andy!

(image credit: AFP/Getty)




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COMMENT

11 comments to "Flying a Jetpack Over the Channel"

  1. Paul Smith
    September 26th, 2008 at 10:30 am

    To infinity, and beyond!…

  2. kid_icarus
    September 26th, 2008 at 11:32 am

    paul you beat me to it!!!

    he really does look like buzz lightyear!

  3. Xinavera
    September 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am

    Say what you will about rich “explorers” and their toys, seeing a guy fly through the air is just awesome!

  4. Thomas
    September 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    Well done. Now where’s my flying car?

  5. Persephone
    September 26th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    That would be perfect for my work commute. I wonder how much the fuel would cost?

  6. Him
    September 26th, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    A man did this 4 years ago with the same rig, but no jets.

  7. pfelelep
    September 26th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    Iron Man meets Buzz…

    awesome, really awesome, I want one.

  8. Ray
    September 27th, 2008 at 5:11 am

    From his starting height and distance travelled, he had a glide ratio of 14:1. Almost any plane (ultralight, Cessna, big jet) can glide better (power off). His power-off glide ratio would be likely lower, but still, (like Him said) the jet mostly provides just speed.

  9. SueDunham
    September 27th, 2008 at 7:24 am

    Ray is right. If it’s not a flight from take-off to landing , it seems like cheating

  10. Ali S.
    September 28th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    I was also expecting him to actually take off and land as well. I guess that would require him to have a more powerful jet system.

  11. Jeremy
    September 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    Buzz Lightyear nothing, he looks like Ace McCloud of the Centurions.

    Power EXTREME!!


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