Man Flies Over Alps with Backpack Jet
Remember yesterday's tantalizing pictures of a backpack-worn jet-powered wing? Today we've got one better: Video of a man wearing a similar device and flying through the air. This is earlier test footage of Yves Rossy, who yesterday jumped out of a small plane with his custom wing strapped to his back, then throttled up and flew over the Swiss Alps.
Rossy was able to top 186 miles-per-hour, which enabled him to maintain altitude and even fly. His wing is powered by two jet engines of the type used to power large model aircraft and has no movable controls, meaning he steers it entirely by moving his body. He has been revising the design of the wing for years, but yesterday's flight was its first public demonstration (the video above is from an earlier, private test).
Despite some similarities, this is not the same as the EXO-Wing shown yesterday, and with this demonstration, we're not so sure the EXO's "world's smallest human-piloted jet" designation still applies. [Source: AOL News]
Rossy was able to top 186 miles-per-hour, which enabled him to maintain altitude and even fly. His wing is powered by two jet engines of the type used to power large model aircraft and has no movable controls, meaning he steers it entirely by moving his body. He has been revising the design of the wing for years, but yesterday's flight was its first public demonstration (the video above is from an earlier, private test).
Despite some similarities, this is not the same as the EXO-Wing shown yesterday, and with this demonstration, we're not so sure the EXO's "world's smallest human-piloted jet" designation still applies. [Source: AOL News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben @ May 15th 2008 10:45AM
Awesome, wow that looks fun. How long before they offer rides for this in Vegas :P
Ed @ May 15th 2008 11:18AM
This guy must have a backhoe, just to carry his testicles around!!
k2oert @ May 16th 2008 9:50AM
unbelievable awesome!!!!
Louis Oreamuno @ May 16th 2008 10:16AM
Regarding this article about a Flying Pack over the Alps, about 15 years ago National Geographic featured a Chinese man soaring over the Himalayas on a kite-like apparatus for approximately 45 minutes.He had a camera attached to his helmet and the sights and sounds were awesome.
Louis Oreamuno
RD @ May 16th 2008 10:19AM
Awesome - Cool Stuff!
John C. Billingsley, Jr. @ May 16th 2008 10:23AM
Not as attractive an outfitt as Flash Gordon wore but where did they come up with that offal song? I vote we shoot the sanger.
Scott Carlson @ May 16th 2008 10:57AM
This was so amazing I watched it twice!
Imagine the applications!
Now if only it could lift like the jet packs then allow flight.....
This was the coolist thing ive seen in ages!
scott
Justin @ May 17th 2008 11:53AM
God bless this badass. What an awesome combination of DIY know-how and human spirit. Wow.