Swiss pilot successfully tests homemade jet-powered wing

by Stevie Smith - May 15 2008, 12:24

Yves ‘Fusion Man’ Rossy, a commercial airline pilot from Switzerland, has this week quite literally taken the aviation plunge by plummeting headlong toward death in the Rhone valley while strapped onto little more than a homemade jet-powered wing.

Yves Rossy blasts off attached to his amazing Jet-Wing. Image: Jet-Man.com.

More pointedly, 48-year-old Mr. Rossy, a former fighter pilot and a fan of extreme sports, threw himself and his rigid jet-wing contraption from a perfectly serviceable aircraft this Wednesday as gathered crowds and throngs of press watched on from below.The result of five years of training, Mr. Rossy’s maiden flight before a public audience saw him plunging through a controlled freefall into a more gentle glide before then powering up four jet turbines to provide necessary propulsion. Once under his own power, and using careful body positioning for control, Mr. Rossy regained lost altitude before drawing appreciative gasps from the crowds by performing spectacular figure eight loops and an impressive 360-degree roll. He also accelerated his jet-wing to a speed of 186mph, which is some 65mph faster than the speeds reached by a traditional skydiver. After five minutes of controlled flight, Mr. Rossy and his jet-wing touched down safely on an airfield close to the eastern shore of Lake Geneva, at which point the clearly thrilled pilot exclaimed that the experience had been “absolutely excellent.”Insisting that his jet-wing has not yet been used to its full potential, Mr. Rossy now intends to fly it across the English Channel, hoping to tackle the 22-mile stretch of water separating England and France before the end of the year.The German-built model aircraft engines that presently power the jet-wing deliver arounf 200 pounds of thrust, which is enough to allow Mr. Rossy and his 120-pound, heat-resistant flying suit to climb through the air.“Physically, it’s absolutely no stress,” Rossy said in an Associated Press report. “It’s like being on a motorbike.”However, the Swiss pilot also pointed out that even small body movements during flight can lead to control problems and that he has to concentrate hard on remaining relaxed at all times so as not cause what he calls “Whoops moments.”Should such a whoops moment prove truly dangerous, the jet-wing is fitted with an emergency handle that retracts the wings and opens a life-saving parachute.While not prepared to be drawn on a potential market price for his jet-wing, which has already cost $285,000 USD to develop, Mr. Rossy does believe that similar devices will one day be available in the extreme sports industry so that hardcore parachutists, skydivers, and hang glider pilots can also enjoy what he sees as a truly amazing experience. See Fusion Man in action by clicking below.

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Antone Varize IIIMay 18th, 2008 - 00:10:40

I literally cried when watching this. Try to imagine in less than a few years we all could just FLY where you need to go. Thank You Mr. Yves Rossy for such passion in the quest for human flight. My children will read about you. Now can I test one for you.

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steveMay 18th, 2008 - 20:57:59

'wow'I wish i could do that in my life time. what men could do if we realy set our mind to it.

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Keith PeshakMay 25th, 2008 - 21:09:37

I want one, particularly in the spring of the year, when the FAA Administrator keeps the big belcany doors open on the opposite walls of her personal private office. 185 mph would about do it... Likely never be seen while in the class B airspace to and from...

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littel :PJan 21st, 2009 - 22:04:26

that so cool i wise i had one

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Swiss pilot successfully tests homemade jet-powered wing

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