Man flies Jet Pack over Swiss Alps (in formation with jets)

[AirDC]

Pretty cool video that has made its way all over the news in the last 24 hours.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/28/jet-man-soars-over-swiss-alps/

The self-styled "jet man" has performed another death-defying stunt -- flying alongside two Albatross aircraft above the Swiss Alps.
Adventurer Yves Rossy flew in a custom-built jet suit over the mountain range in formation with the aircraft. Rossy, 51, launched himself from the side of a helicopter before taking his place alongside the two jets high above the Alps.

The daredevil -- who used to fly fighter jets with the Swiss air force -- wears a jet suit which has a wing span of about six and a half feet. The pack weighs around 120 pounds and is fitted with four [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]engines[/COLOR] that enable him to travel at speeds in excess of 125 mph.
Once the flight was completed, the adventurer safely parachuted back down to the ground.

Rossy is still the first man in the history of aviation to fly with a jet-propelled wing, a feat he first achieved in 2006. In May 2008, he flew in his suit over the Swiss Alps for the first time and then crossed the English Channel later that year.

Since then, he has worked on the design of his jet-pack which has led to his first formation flights and acrobatics.

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[mikea]

Note that the jets are definitely in slow flight and he gets a whole 4 minutes of power...and I wonder why he doesn't climb like SpaceShipOne.

That wasn't flying. It was just falling with style.

 

[Anthony]

It was still pretty cool to see him in formation with the L-39's, even if they were in slow flight.

 

[OffCenter]

4 minutes of power?? Don't know where you got that idea. If you watch the videos
he's done and read what's been written in the EAA magazine, he gets 13 to 15 minutes
of power depending on throttle setting. He can cruise level at 125 mph
and has maxed at around 190 in a dive. And he AIN'T falling with style.
He has videos out there showing him doing barrel rolls and LOOPS!!
(two consecutive loops IIRC)

 

[Anthony]

I think what Mike is saying is that it WOULD BE four minutes if he where to don that suit, due to additional drag and W&B issues.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Mike, are you criticizing this? I think it's amazing. Don't understand!

 

[mikea]

I think what Mike is saying is that it WOULD BE four minutes if he where to don that suit, due to additional drag and W&B issues.

It would really be more weight because I'd strap you to my chest to serve as the landing carriage.

 

[mikea]

Mike, are you criticizing this? I think it's amazing. Don't understand!

Nah. I haven't watched that much of him. I just haven't seen him do a full power climb. I suspect that we are seeing full power.

I'm all for him getting the newer high thrust/weight engines. I say give him one of the Williams.

 

[silver-eagle]

Nah. I haven't watched that much of him. I just haven't seen him do a full power climb. I suspect that were are seeing full power.

I'm all for him getting the newer high thrust/weight engines. I say give him one of the Williams.

Plenty of surplus F110-400s from old F14s. Might upset his W/B.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

I'm all for him getting the newer high thrust/weight engines. I say give him one of the Williams.

How about a rocket! Some of those model rockets have decent payloads!

 

[Anthony]

It would really be more weight because I'd strap you to my chest to serve as the landing carriage.

Cool. Let me know!

 

[geneseib]

Rossy is still the first man in the history of aviation to fly with a jet-propelled wing, a feat he first achieved in 2006.​

Wonder how long until someone else replaces him as the first.