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August 27, 2008 — He’s known as Batman or Fusionman. But no matter what name he is called, Yves Rossy is hoping to become the first person in history to carry out a solo, jet-propelled flight across the English Channel.
An August 20 test flight provided proof that he can do it. With a 120-pound, eight-foot carbon-fiber wing strapped to his back, Rossy flew for 10 minutes above the Swiss town of Bex, covering a distance of more than 21 miles, SkyNews reported. The successful flight involved him jumping out of an aircraft at nearly 7,500 feet (2,300 meters), and then flying horizontally under power from four micro-turbine jet engines to a height of nearly 5,600 feet (1,700 meters). He then switched off the jet engines before deploying two parachutes at nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) and 3,900-plus feet (1,200 meters).
The wing does not include moving parts such as flaps to control direction, but Rossy is able to steer by shifting his weight and turning his head and shoulders. He wears a heat-resistant suit to protect his legs from exhaust and has evolved his flight envelope to include rolls.
The 48-year-old Swiss, said: "Everything went well; it was awesome, it's my longest flight with this wing.”
Weather permitting; his Channel crossing is scheduled for Sept. 24. He will follow Louis Bleriot's 1909 route between Calais, France, to Dover, U.K — a distance of about 21 miles.
Rossy has logged 1,000 hours in the Mirage III and later flew for Swissair. He also has more than 1,000 parachute jumps to his credit.
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Yves Rossy hopes to become the first to cross the English Channel flying a jet-propelled aircraft. Photo courtesy www.fusionman.ch.
Yves Rossy’s aircraft is a 120-pound, eight-foot carbon fiber wing that he straps to his back. Photo courtesy www.fusionman.ch
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