Fusionman: first to cross the English Channel via jet-wing

Fusionman Yves Rossy, not to be confused with Buzz Lightyear, successfully crossed the English Channel today -- the first to do so in a solo flight with jet-propelled wing. Rossy was dropped from a plane at 8,200 feet and flew 22-miles in under 10 minutes from Calais to Dover. When asked by National Geographic's Kathryn Liptrott if he was worried about risk, Rossy replied, "I'm not worried about risk, I manage risk." We've so gotta meet this guy. If you're looking to pick up one of these jet powered carbon-fiber wings for your own unspeakable mischief, expect to pay around the $190,000 mark. Rossy is eager to see these aviation wonders catch on and has designs on forming a Red Arrows-style aerobatic team one day.

[Via BBC News]

[stealth @ Sep 26th 2008 3:36PM]

One word.

Badass.

[konshuss @ Sep 26th 2008 4:02PM]

that is possibly the coolest photo i've seen all year.

[Xenoterranos @ Sep 26th 2008 4:11PM]

The guy's got jets on his back and cannon balls in his trousers. My hat goes off to you sir!

[Kris @ Sep 26th 2008 4:13PM]

God you guys are idiots. Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story was "flying with style" hence his comment. I was wondering why he wasn't a Highest Rank. Looks like you idiot can't tell a movie liner from a troll.

[Rogue_Genius @ Sep 26th 2008 5:37PM]

@ Kris: the quote was actually "falling with style". Your typo is glaring. If you're going to attack/correct people, it would be good for you to properly cite the source.

Thanks for playing.

[Wormbolt @ Sep 26th 2008 6:45PM]

Fusionman, you win.

[CraigJ @ Sep 27th 2008 12:08AM]

Balls of Steel!

[Blackstar @ Sep 27th 2008 12:13AM]

I bet he was listening to Kenny Loggins on repeat the whole way.

"Hiiiiiiiiighway to the Danger ZONE!"

[Flashpoint @ Sep 27th 2008 12:35AM]

I'm not sure what would go good with this...

an MP5sd or a flamethrower hooked to his fuel tank.

[Andy TGD @ Sep 27th 2008 12:35PM]

Boba Fett eat your heart out!

[Crass @ Sep 26th 2008 3:38PM]

Big deal. This guy "fell" across the English Channel...

I'd be more impressed if he took off from the ground, and landed without a parachute.

[Crass @ Sep 26th 2008 3:40PM]

"That wasn't flying! That was... FALLING WITH STYLE!"

[ArcticFox @ Sep 26th 2008 3:43PM]

Did you even watch the video, he "fell" out of the plane then he started to climb after he go over the water which kind of implys that he is flying, since you cant fall upwards.

idiot.

[The Shizz @ Sep 26th 2008 3:45PM]

Ummm... No... He did not "climb". The camera that was following him descended to his level...

[jez @ Sep 26th 2008 3:47PM]

You are a goon bag!

[ArcticFox @ Sep 26th 2008 3:47PM]

Erm no it didnt, the plane was flying level the camera just followed him in an arc.

Id like to see you "fall" over the english channel, preferably without a fixed wing or a parachte.

[bandigolo @ Sep 26th 2008 3:49PM]

I'm not sure what you learned in physics class, but this guy (and his wings) probably stopped benefiting from the speed of his dive at about the 2 minute mark.

The fact he didn't crash and burn the second the jets kicked in is impressive enough for me - but this guy flew for 10 minutes!

[The Shizz @ Sep 26th 2008 3:51PM]

Flying or falling with style...

Everybody has a right to their own opinion. Yours is just wrong.

[feffrey @ Sep 26th 2008 3:51PM]

What does the Wright brothers first aircraft, the X-1, Space Ship One, and this guy all have in common?
They set their record with out taking off with 100% of their own power.
The Wright brothers aircraft had help taking off with a pulley, the X-1 that broke the sound barrier was dropped from a B-52, Space Ship one was dropped from its own transport plane in lieu of the first stage booster, and this guy was dropped of via another plane.
While it would have been "awsomer" if he had manged to take off from the ground with out help, this is still a incredible achievement.

[MA2T @ Sep 26th 2008 3:52PM]

I watched it live, and it was much more than falling or even gliding.

Yes he took off from a plane, do you expect him to run with the 60 pound jet pack on his back to take off speed? Come on..

He maintained the height, and certainly was not falling. Also, just before he landed, he did a large loop around and some acrobatics, similar to what a normal plane would do.

[ArcticFox @ Sep 26th 2008 3:55PM]

The Shizz you are a class A tool.

Jumping out of an airplane at relatively low altitude he would have crashed and burned into the sea long before he got across the channel if he was just "falling with style".

[The Shizz @ Sep 26th 2008 4:02PM]

OK, the video on this page isn't all that impressive...

This one is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zrG3B2_Juw

[Joe @ Sep 26th 2008 4:24PM]

"That isn't flying, it's falling... with style" is a quote from Toy Story 2... Bunch of idiots

[cantcount @ Sep 26th 2008 5:28PM]

Its actually from Toy Story, not Toy Story 2. Always proofread your shiiiiiiit maaayiiin!

[Wwhat @ Sep 27th 2008 9:31AM]

I like how he was basically imitating a V1 rocket flying into britain but nobody wanted to mention that :)
The v1 flew towards britain horizontally with small wings then the engine cut out and it fell to the ground (and exploded) you see, similar setup.

[Mia @ Sep 27th 2008 11:08AM]

... Uhum. And I bet you can do better.

[gibber9583 @ Sep 26th 2008 3:38PM]

To infinity and beyond!

[avester @ Sep 26th 2008 3:53PM]

It's not carbon fiber, it's reinforced adamantium!

[Shinigami @ Sep 26th 2008 4:16PM]

To English Channel and beyond! to be correct ;)

[webon @ Sep 26th 2008 4:35PM]

adamantium?? that's so last century

They are a terillium-carbonic alloy, and he can fly!

[mabhatter @ Sep 26th 2008 9:05PM]

why did "To Infinity and Beyond" get modded up and "falling with style" get modded down? mods make no sense.

Do I get a wrist mounted laser with my wings... or a red blinky light?

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 26th 2008 9:22PM]

I for one welcome our buzz light year overlords.

[bandigolo @ Sep 26th 2008 3:41PM]

the word "ninja" gets tossed around a lot these days, but this really is quite ninja. Who designed/engineered this thing? Sounds like a military project - but it's not?

[Nick @ Sep 26th 2008 3:52PM]

He did...

[Barky @ Sep 26th 2008 7:37PM]

He is a Major in the Swiss Air Force (IIRC), and those jets are off the shelf RC model plane engines, which keeps the cost much lower than if he had to build the engines himself.

[Cirian75 @ Sep 26th 2008 3:42PM]

Go that man !!!

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 26th 2008 9:28PM]

Its bird! its a plane! its Gatchaman!

[kyle allen @ Sep 27th 2008 3:24AM]

I agree, this guy is totally my new hero, but it makes me feel like im guna need to hustle if i want to be the first to cross the english channel in some interesting way.

[Wwhat @ Sep 27th 2008 10:33AM]

Yeah that channel is a nice excuse, but it's hard to think of new ways.

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 26th 2008 3:45PM]

I was listening to Rocketman as this post popped up... Weiiirrrrddd.

[Mauricio @ Sep 26th 2008 3:46PM]

i must admit, that is pretty cool.

but you still need a plane and parachute for this to work.

[Phoenix @ Sep 26th 2008 3:52PM]

I'll join his aerobatic team! I just need to find the money... I don't really need 2 kidneys, do I?

[ArcticFox @ Sep 26th 2008 4:00PM]

Depends wether you dont want to die if you crash and lose the only one you have.

[Coral @ Sep 26th 2008 11:18PM]

@ArcticFox: You have three kidneys? Luuuucky...

[gboss @ Sep 26th 2008 3:53PM]

http://www.felixbaumgartner.com
this guy did it without a jet-propelled wing in 2003.
start in 9300m above dover. 360km to calais. top speed 360km/h (224 miles per hour)

[Will Villalobos @ Sep 26th 2008 3:59PM]

What's stopping him from running off the ground and then switching on the engines at full power? I know he might get singed, but there must be ways around that :)

[ArcticFox @ Sep 26th 2008 4:01PM]

The engines dont look powerful enough to create enough lift to get him off the ground, just like space shuttles need the massive booster rockets he would need a massive engine to get him off the ground.

[bandigolo @ Sep 26th 2008 4:05PM]

there's no way those wings could generate the necessary lift without massive acceleration. I wonder if he got shot out of a cannon...

[WVilla @ Sep 26th 2008 4:08PM]

Bigger engine needed? Kthx.

[gryphius @ Sep 26th 2008 7:36PM]

so what your saying is he needs to base jump off one of the cliffs on Baffin Island (canada), and fly into the US. Not sure how far that would be, but it would totally kick ass. Of course the cliffs on Baffin Island are only 4000 feet tall, so it may be a little risky...