Swiss daredevil cruises the friendly skies with winged jetpack

Sure, watching Wowwee's FlyTech Dragonfly buzz around the room at your command elicits quite a few positive emotions, but we can't even fathom the thrill (not to mention the feeling of impending death) that would come from cruising the skies via jetpack. Yves Rossy -- a Swiss daredevil whom we all look forward to living through vicariously -- says he has become "the first person to gain altitude and maintain a stable, horizontal flight thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings." While we've seen jetpacks before, and realize that folks have taken to the air on similar devices in years past, Reuters is giving us a sneak peek at Rossy's flight, which he took on the kerosene-powered, back-strapped vehicle -- and we admit, it looks like quite the thrill ride. So if you're looking to quell your fears before picking up one of your own (hopefully) in a few years, be sure to hit the read link for a live action video (and a good reason to grin).

[Via Fark]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 1:37PM]

Holy crap... I'll pay any kind of money for that.

[Hkellogg Posted Dec 24th 2006 1:25PM]

that is really awesome

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 1:28PM]

read link points to something completely unrelated

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 1:38PM]

im still waiting for the flying cars.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 1:58PM]

That is unbelievably cool. Thanks for that! I wonder when the US military will have theirs built? Wait a minute... This is old tech... I've seen this thing before... http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/84/claw/

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 2:01PM]

Where is the video? the "read" link did not link to the video :'-(.. buhuuu :(.. :,...(...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 3:44PM]

A little fishing around and here is the guy's website.

http://www.jet-man.com/actuel_eng.html

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 5:51PM]

http://www.jet-man.com/actuel_eng.html

re-emphasizing the video link, since engaget editors don't know how to.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2006 6:28PM]

You can watch the Jetman vid on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHYXrqoS08o

Amazing!

[Hkellogg Posted Dec 24th 2006 8:31PM]

if you click the actual picture it will bring you to the reuters video of the story

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 26th 2006 12:48PM]

Uhm is it just me, or does the link to the article that's supposedly about a daredevil with jets go to an article entitled "Hundreds burned alive in fuel blast" April Fool's on Christmas Eve?

That can't be PR-friendly.