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'Jetman' Rossy Flies Above the Grand Canyon

Posted by timothy on from the why-in-my-day-mules-and-snowshoes dept.

cylonlover writes "Yves Rossy, the former Swiss jet fighter pilot better known as Jetman, flew over the Grand Canyon last Saturday (May 7th) using his wearable jet-propelled wing. It was the first time he has flown with the device in North America, having previously used it to cross the English Channel, perform an aerial loop, fly in formation with stunt planes, and to unsuccessfully attempt traversing a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean between Morocco and Spain."

8 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Don't bother with the video by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

    I like the part where he didn't get physically groped by the TSA.

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  2. How exactly did he fly 'across' it? by e9th · · Score: 3, Insightful

    TFA says he started from a helicopter then parachuted to the canyon floor. I was expecting something cool, like he started standing on one side of the canyon, flew across it, then landed safely on the other side.

  3. Funny, I was just watching an old documentary. by ls671 · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is funny, I was just watching an old documentary about him. Just before he flew across the English channel, he realized in a wind tunnel that his wings were unbalanced so he would always starts an endless looping that leads to a crash on the same side. He learned to recuperate from this anyways. Amazingly, he said that he didn't have time to rebalance his wings before the English channel crossing so he did it as is.

    This guy is serious business. Another poster was unsatisfied because he needs to be launched from a plane or helicopter. Believe me, it is a must with his setup. Also, he can't land and he uses a parachute to land. His setup involves only a wing set and a turbine. There is no other controls but the turbine speed. All directional control is done with his body.

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    1. Re:Funny, I was just watching an old documentary. by moonbender · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I thought it was kind of underwhelming when compared to the elegant awesomeness that is wingsuit flying. No turbine needed. Those videos always give me the chills.

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    2. Re:Funny, I was just watching an old documentary. by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Meh. You want real Serious Business, watch this film Devil at Your Heels, a documentary shot in 1981. Screw jetpacks, this guy had a ROCKET CAR. He was going to jump a river from Canada to America with a TEN-STORY RAMP. For real! If you have a spare 100 minutes, I highly recommend the film. At least watch the first five minutes about the rose bushes. If you have an engineering background, the opening shot of the ramp plus an unaerodynamic car going 250mph...make your predictions about how the film ends. The guy Ken Carter is full of unintentional humor. Fans of Napoleon Dynamite or School of Rock will love it. And unlike these two films, the subject is 100% in earnest. Filme Board du Canada didn't make that sort of film back then.

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  4. Re:Don't bother with the video by zill · · Score: 3, Funny

    The groping was not shot for obvious reasons. Including it would make the video NC-17.

  5. Re:ho hum, personal jet propulsion by timeOday · · Score: 3, Informative

    I suppose you're thinking of Hydrogen Peroxide packs, which are totally different. Those basically hover; this goes 125 mph.

  6. Re:Don't bother with the video by immaterial · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is Slashdot, try not to make it obvious that you're making up an anecdote.

    ...But in case you're serious: Since both you and your girlfriend are cool with it, mind sending her over here for a bit?