Incredible footage shows the first ever ‘Jetman’ whizzing through the air
- Yves Rossy – known as Jetman – took to the skies in a specially designed jetpack
- He set a world record after he became the first person to successfully fly horizontally for six minutes
- His jetwing suit was capable of hitting speeds of more than 305km/h (190mph)
Published on Jul 18, 2024 at 3:33 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 18, 2024 at 6:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Incredible footage caught the moment Yves Rossy – known as Jetman – took to the skies in a specially designed jet pack for his first public US flight.
Pilot and aviator Rossy, from Switzerland, has been known to seriously push the limits of human flight with his custom-designed and built jet packs.
Rossy’s first wingsuit system was made up of a backpack with semi-rigid airplane-type carbon-fiber wings – spanning around 2.4 meters (7.9 ft) – that were powered by four Jetcat P400 jet engines that he had modified from large kerosene-fueled model aircraft engines.
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Jetman earned himself a world record
Earning himself the nickname Jetman – for obvious reasons – in 2006 Rossy set a world record after he became the first person to successfully fly horizontally for six minutes with the assistance of wings and four engines strapped to his back.
As well as taking to the skies on a private airfield in Spain, Rossy has taken part in several large public events – such as the 2013 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show.
With thousands of flight enthusiasts gathered to watch, Rossy donned his jet-wing suit and took flight.
Sponsored by luxury watch-maker Breitling, Rossy flew using a carbon-Kevlar jet-wing with four engines, each of which was capable of a 22kg thrust.
The jetwing can hit some incredible speeds
He soared upwards into the skies at more than 305km/h (190mph), which he controlled with a handheld throttle.
“It’s thrilling to do my first public flight for such an enthusiastic crowd and be a part of the biggest aviation gathering in the world, and I look forward to the rest of my flights this week,” Rossy said after the flight.
“I have been pursuing my dream of flying in the most natural possible form for many years, and I am always experimenting to get as close as possible to that goal.
“By being a part of this highly-regarded and world-famous aviation event, I’m sharing with this audience of enthusiasts, fans, and young people that it’s possible to push the frontiers of aviation.
“It’s gratifying to be so well-received and to have so many fans here supporting my efforts and witnessing the new technologies I’ve developed. EAA AirVenture highlights how experimental projects like mine can encourage aviation innovation.”
In Dubai earlier this year, the world’s first jet pack race took place, which saw a team of pilots zipping along a route over in the Dubai Marina.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.
