ScottishJohn 25 #1 March 23, 2007 I've just spotted this on the Annanova news web site. http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2254764.html Rocketman takes to the skies A Swiss pilot has turned himself into a 'rocketman' by strapping a pair of wings and two jet engines to his back. Yves Rossy, 45, a former airforce fighter pilot, gave his carbon wings their first test flight in Spain /Europics Yves Rossy, 45, a former airforce fighter pilot, gave his carbon wings their first test flight in Spain. He said: "It is absolutely fantastic. Total freedom in three dimensions, so much speed and power, it was better than being a bird. A Swiss pilot has turned himself into 'Rocketman' by strapping a pair of wings and two jet engines to his back /Europics "I have to jump from a moving plane as I can't really take off from an airfield like a real plane, I couldn't run that fast", he said laughing, and added: "I don't have an undercarriage either." To land he has to cut the engines and coast to the ground, using a conventional parachute at the last minute. Mr Rossy spent five years developing his three metre carbon fibre wings for his flying man project, then added two kerosene-powered jet engines to his original wing design. Handles are fixed onto the wings so that Yves can electronically manipulate the wingtips, giving him the freedom to decide when he wanted to either glide or dive. He said: "After I jumped my wings opened like a bird taking wing, I then glided down to 2500m, and ignited the kerosene engines. "There was a short period, 30 seconds, while I waited for them to stabilize and then I began to open the throttle. "I soon realised I was no longer losing height, and achieved horizontal flight for more than four minutes at 100 knots (115mph)."---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you think my attitude stinks you should smell my fingers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peej 0 #2 March 23, 2007 Yeah it's been posted a few times before but yeah, it's pretty sweet! In fact one of our own, Mr Piisfish was involved in the feat iirc Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 136 #3 March 23, 2007 these pics are the latest (from last couple of weeks). It's unfortunate the text contains so many inaccuracies. QuoteRocketman He "used to be" Jet-Man, now Fusion-Man (look at the sponsor on the wing) Quote"I don't have an undercarriage either."but he has massive brass balls, maybe they can't turn fast enough Quotethen added two kerosene-powered jet engines to his original wing designthat was 3 years ago, now he has 4 QuoteHandles are fixed onto the wings so that Yves can electronically manipulate the wingtips, giving him the freedom to decide when he wanted to either glide or diveactually the ailerons are inoperative for the moment and all movements are done by weight transfer and body aerodynamics QuoteTo land he has to cut the engines and coast to the ground, using a conventional parachute at the last minute.opening around 4000-4500ft is not "the last minute", it is a safe altitude which allows to deal with malfunctions with such a particular equipment. Besides that the new "matt black" color looks great scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 136 #4 March 23, 2007 QuoteYeah it's been posted a few times before but yeah, it's pretty sweet! In fact one of our own, Mr Piisfish was involved in the feat iirc that's the new pictures in which I'm not involved (couldn't take 2 weeks off to go to Empuria)... But I'll be involved in the next ones scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peej 0 #5 March 26, 2007 Ah ok cool, i stand corrected Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 136 #6 March 26, 2007 May in Geneva normally scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites