ON REAL SUPER-HERO FLYING

FINALLY

Every boy from 2 from to a 100 (and a bit more), is going to like this story titled "Rocket man flies on jet-powered wings", as told by MSNBC:

"Former fighter pilot Yves Rossy, 48, accelerated to 186 miles an hour May 14, 2008, over the Swiss Alps during his first public flight while strapped to his self-made, jet-powered wings."

The piece goes into the actual experience (and has a video to boot):

"Steering only with his body, Rossy dived, turned and soared again, flying what appeared to be effortless loops from one side of the Rhone valley to the other. At times he rose 2,600 feet  before descending again with a trail of special-effects smoke in his wake.

"It's like a second skin," he later told reporters. "If I turn to the left, I fly left. If I nudge to the right, I go right."

And Rossy's next challenge:

"He said he is ready now for a bigger challenge: crossing the English Channel later this year. The stunt, which will be shown on live television, will test his flying machine to the limit. Rossy said he plans to practice the 22-mile trip by flying between two hot-air balloons."

Forget joy-rides into outer-space for folks willing to pay the freight.  This is the ride most of us boys (and I suspect quite a few girls), would happily sign up for, as and when available for mere mortals.

Comments

[Alex Tolley]

I caught this too - and immediately sent the link to my friends. Very cool machine, although the safer landing by parachute wasn't exactly spectacular.

After seeing "Iron Man" at the movies, it is really nice to see a real personal flying machine that uses jet propulsion. Now if it could take off from the ground too...