Yves Rossy, also known as Fusion Man, built and flew the first jet-powered wing in 2006. The wings were made of carbon fiber and powered by four small kerosene Jet-Cat jet engines. Rossy used a Pilatus PC-6 propeller plane as the takeoff point and flew for 6 minutes and 30 seconds, reaching speeds of 160 mph. He conducted over 30 test flights before his first public flight in 2008, where he flew over the Swiss Alps and crossed the Rhone valley. In 2008, Rossy crossed the English Channel in 9 minutes and 7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 186 mph. He plans to fly across the Grand Canyon in the future.
Fusion Man is the nickname of Yves Rossy, a Swiss pilot, inventor, aviation enthusiast and former fighter pilot in the Swiss Air Force. Fusion Man made his name on December 19, 2006 when he became the first person to build and fly a jet-powered wing. Built by himself with the help of sponsors such as Swiss watch company Hublot, the vessel took US$190,000 (USD) and several years to build.
The first flight of Fusion Man took place in Bex, Switzerland and lasted for six minutes. Its wings were made of carbon fiber and had a wingspan of approximately 8 feet (2.4 m). The device was powered by four small kerosene Jet-Cat jet engines, normally intended for model jet aircraft. To protect himself from the temperatures of the jet engines, Rossy wore a heat-resistant suit similar to that worn by firefighters and race car drivers. After his 2006 flight, Rossy claimed to be “the first person to gain altitude and maintain stable level flight thanks to aerodynamic carbon folding wings.” Jet packs have been around since the late 1940s, but Fusion Man was the first person to attach wings to them and use them to fly horizontally.
In his 2006 flight, Fusion Man used a Pilatus PC-6 propeller plane as the takeoff point. Leaping out of the aircraft with wings folded, wings extended as he entered free fall, and subsequently began level flight, gaining several hundred feet of altitude and reaching speeds of 160 mph. After flying for 6 minutes and 30 seconds, he deployed his parachute, which served as a pause, thus floating safely to the ground. Rossy would then undertake over 30 test flights between late 2006 and May 14, 2008, when he would conduct his first public flight in front of the world’s media.
Rossy’s May 14th flight was also held at Bex, and this time he entertained the crowd and media with loop-de-loops and long turns. Flight control was achieved solely using her body and two hand throttles – no additional control features were needed. Flying over the Swiss Alps, Rossy crossed the Rhone valley and reached an altitude of 2,600 feet (790m). Footage of his incredible flight captivated audiences around the world.
On September 26, 2008, Rossy impressed the world again by crossing the English Channel (which is 21 miles or 34 km wide) in 9 minutes 7 seconds using his jet pack. Historic flights come to mind such as Jean-Pierre Blanchard’s 1785 crossing of the English Channel in an airship and Louis Blariot’s 1909 airplane crossing. At top speed she reached 186 mph, and when she released her parachute, she was traveling at 125 mph. For his future plans, Fusion Man says he wants to fly in his jetpack across the Grand Canyon.
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