Tech

Man in jet suit astonishingly matches speed with Airbus A380 over Dubai

  • A man wearing a Kevlar wing flew alongside an Emirates Airbus A380 in stunning formation
  • They were likened to “mosquitoes flying with an eagle or a condor”
  • You can check it out in this incredible footage

Published on Mar 11, 2024 at 8:27 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Mar 22, 2024 at 4:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Alessandro Renesis

It might look like AI, but this incredible video of Emirates Airbus A380 and Jetman Dubai in a jet suit flying together back in 2015 is simply breathtaking

The formation flight took place over Dubai, making aviation history

One of the Jetman Dubai team, the late Vincent Reffet, was wearing a jet suit and Kevlar wing with four engines flying close to the enormous Emirates Airbus A380.

While initially thought to be “madness” with the task likened to “mosquitoes flying next to an eagle or condor”, it was soon seen as a challenge and an opportunity to showcase skills.

Intensive preparation involved minimizing risks through maintaining minimum separation and choreographing every sequence meticulously.

“We place the event inside the bubble then we say to the event: ‘Do not go outside of that piece of airspace’,” said head of aviation regulations and safety for the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Rudolph.

Communication between the Jetman and the aircraft captain was crucial for safety to understand each other’s movements.

With Jetman’s endurance only 10 minutes maximum, he had to use “very high power settings to maintain formation”.

Despite challenges, the operation was a stunning success – check it out in the video above.

Sadly Reffet was killed during training in Dubai in 2020.

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With a dual English and French degree and NCTJ diploma, Amelia began her career doing award-winning writing and editing for titles and brands spanning Women's Health, the Telegraph, Boots, and Vitality. Amelia joined the SB Media family in September of 2023, bringing her expertise in SEO and reader takeaway. As Lead Editor, her superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a shareable story.