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Highest Human Elevation Using a Rocketbelt

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the moment-of-zen dept.

Chris Gondek writes "Rocketman Eric Scott shot 46 metres into the air in London and promptly claimed a world record. Scott, 41, from Dallas, Texas, donned his red and white jumpsuit and zoomed into the north London sky in his bid to achieve the highest human elevation using a Rocketbelt. His feat, which saw him reach the equivalent height of a 12-storey building, lasted just 26 seconds but allowed enough time for a couple of pirouettes. The Rocketbelt was devised by the United States military in 1961 but has since been used for performances and displays around the world, including the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles."

31 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Unlikely! by thebra · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since then he has become a veteran of almost 500 flights and claims to be the world's only Rocketman.
    Obviously he hasn't seen Rocketeer.

    1. Re:Unlikely! by nomadic · · Score: 5, Funny

      Since then he has become a veteran of almost 500 flights and claims to be the world's only Rocketman. Obviously he hasn't seen Rocketeer.

      Or Elton John.

    2. Re:Unlikely! by Lev13than · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just remember that the knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

      --
      When you have nothing left to burn you must set yourself on fire
    3. Re:Unlikely! by Hiro+Antagonist · · Score: 2, Funny

      On the other hand, if this guy didn't have a parachute at twelve stories, he did a good impression of Michael Jackson's career.

      --

      --
      I Hit the Karma Cap, and All I Got Was This Lousy .sig.
  2. Why not do this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...from the top of Everest?

  3. Funnier... by Ploum · · Score: 4, Funny

    The highest human elevation using a Rocketbelt is funny.

    The dumbest human fall that follow this record is even funnier ;-)

    --
    Ploum.net.
  4. Come on by TexasDex · · Score: 2, Funny
    Is there anybody who wouldn't love to have one of these for getting to work?

    Of course they're probably even less fuel-efficient than cars. I'll bet the environmentalists won't be happy.

    --
    The Cheese Stands Alone.
  5. next record... by ZipR · · Score: 3, Funny

    Stacking rocket men. 64 men, one atop the other, reaching to the heavens!

  6. rocketing downwards by Silas+is+back · · Score: 1, Funny

    "owwwahh, look at this blonde down there. Gotta go a bit closeeeeeeeeeeee" rrroooooaaaaarrrrrr flatsch.

    --
    this sig is useless
  7. But where... by Suit_N_Tie · · Score: 3, Funny

    are the flying cars?

  8. Quake Rocket Jump by davejenkins · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, it seems safer than the rocket jump we've all pulled a thousand times in order to get up to those sweet camping spots...

    --

    davejenkins.com |

  9. "Down" button? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Down button? What do you mean there is NO down button?"

    "Cool your jets, Jetson (hehe). You'll come down when it runs out of fuel. That will happen soon enough, you'd better believe it."

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  10. In a completely related story... by digitalamish · · Score: 5, Funny
    The last surviving twin brother that founded the Guinness Book of World Records has died. He had held the record for longest surviving twin who founded the greatest book series ever.

    ---
    "There's no I in Team." - Reporter
    "Yeah, there ain't no we either." - Leon

    1. Re:In a completely related story... by leenoble_uk · · Score: 4, Funny

      What do you mean by modding this as funny. It's insightful.
      The Guinness book of Records is filled to bursting with pathetic 'qualified' records.
      So if you're never going to get the world record for the 100 metres maybe you can get in as the world's fastest at the hundred metres while holding a cup in your left hand.
      If you weren't the first person in the world to sail single handedly around the world then claim to be the first person to sail singlehandly around the world after setting out on a Tuesday.
      And most pathetic of all. Weren't the first person to climb Mount Everest? How about the first American? Ok the first Woman? Or the first American Woman, no the first British Woman, oh has that already gone. The first British Woman to climb Mount Everest starting out on a Tuesay whilst holding a cup in your left hand then.

  11. That's not a rocket by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    He was happy to see me.

  12. man by bpland · · Score: 1, Funny

    That looks like a rocking good time.

  13. Coincidence by WwWonka · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...lasted just 26 seconds but allowed enough time for a couple of pirouettes.

    Interesting, I too accomplished this feat with my imaginary girlfriend over the weekend.

  14. 64 rocket men by AtariAmarok · · Score: 3, Funny
    "Stacking rocket men. 64 men, one atop the other, reaching to the heavens!"

    64 rocket men on the pad, 64 rocket men. Launch one up, notify next-of-kin, 63 rocket men on the pad.

    63 rocket men on the pad, 63 rocket men.....

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  15. Hi. I'm Troy McClure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hi. I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such rocketman documentaries as "Rocketeer 2: Electric Boogaloo" and "Splattered All Over Nebraska".

  16. I thought they were made by ACME by scottennis · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because Wile E. Coyote has gone way higher than this guy did. Unfortunately he bashed his head through an overhanging ledge, which then broke off and fell on him when he plummeted to the canyon floor below.

    --
    Read any good sonnets lately?
  17. What is up with London? by Astroboy! · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why does London seem to be the new haven for American crazies doing weird things?

    David Blaine sits in a box by the Thames.
    Rocketman out in north Londdon.

    What's next?

    Is there some kind of American law about being weird that Britain doesn't have?

    1. Re:What is up with London? by shadowcabbit · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, it's just that in London, an American acting totally insane won't get noticed, since we all act that way anyway.

      (I kid, of course. There are some pretty weird Brits out there, too.)

      --
      "Why Subscribe?" Good question...
    2. Re:What is up with London? by 91degrees · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's all down to the recent pro-rocketpack legislation.

      You see, thanks to Red Ken's conjestion charge, a whole industry has been created to find a way around it. One of the many classes of exempt vehicles is the rocket pack (because it causes no conjestion, and a lot of the waste is water). It's now a common sight to see businessmen commuting to work with a rocket pack, umberella, and reinforced crash-bowler. Anyway, because of the popularity of these, the government has made sure the requirements for using on are quite low, thus making it the idal city to try this in.

  18. Re:got him beat by HeghmoH · · Score: 4, Funny

    How lame. Even assuming an average of two meters per person, stacking 747 people is not even 1,500 meters. I've been way higher than that in an airplane.

    --
    Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  19. Coming up next by Wolfier · · Score: 3, Funny

    Largest area covered by bloody splat ever achieved by a falling human being

  20. Highest Human Flight by PetoskeyGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    but my squirrel rocket belt still holds the real record. The trick is finding a good squirrel. Most can't steer for shit.

  21. Not a difficult 'Record' to beat! by d60b9y · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the article:
    There were no records before. I am the first one in the books for the record so it is neat.

    Basically, the story is "Man uses Rocketbelt and happens to measure how high he went."

    Hardly Rocket Science.... (BaDum Tish!)

  22. Sadly... by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Funny

    .. he was scorned as a "Camping Faggot" when he went up with a railgun.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  23. Re:5 posts by goatan · · Score: 2, Funny
    Scott, who says his sons think he is Superman, works as a film stuntman and also builds custom homes.

    Yes custom houses with 3 floors but no stairs you have to rockpack your way up.

    --
    Saying Apple is better than MS is like saying Botulism is better than rabies.

  24. Re:Military Technology by spectrokid · · Score: 3, Funny

    When used in an packed olympic stadium, he could fall on top of somebody else. Geesh, imagine him falling into the flamy thingie..

    --

    10 ?"Hello World" life was simple then

  25. a two-stage award! by argStyopa · · Score: 4, Funny

    One would think that "Highest Human Elevation Using a Rocketbelt" would be something one gets just before the Darwin Award.

    --
    -Styopa