Fusionman

On May 14, 2008 Swiss pilot Yves Rossy gave his first public demonstration of a jet-fuel powered wing he's been developing for the past five years, flying over the Swiss Alps at speeds of more than 180 miles per hour.¹

On September 26, 2008, Rossi made a 22-mile flight across the English Channel wearing his homemade device. The stunt was originally scheduled for September 25, but was canceled due to bad weather.^{2 1}

Fast Facts

1. Name: Yves Rossy
2. Known as "Fusionman" or "Rocket Man"¹
3. First man to ever to fly with jet-powered wings³
4. Crossed the English Channel in his homemade rocket device in 13 minutes¹
5. Wears a 120lb. heat-resistant suit during flights; jet-powered wings have a span of about 10 feet³
6. Works as Airbus pilot for Swiss International Air Lines; is a former pilot for Swissair
7. Hopes to someday fly through the Grand Canyon

First Public Demonstration

In May 2008, Yves Rossy jumped from a plane at 7,500 feet and began flying through the skies. With the homemade wing strapped to his back, the 48-year-old Rossy soared over the Swiss Alps, at one point reaching speeds of over 180 miles per hour, before parachuting safely to the ground.^{2 4}

Yves Rossy Quotes

1. "I had tried sky-surfing, but that didn't last long enough either, so I decided to create my own wings to enable me to fly for longer."⁵
2. "Happiness, an extraordinary sense of fullness to have once again been able to fly and mostly to show it, because it's one thing to do it on one's own, but to be able to share it live like today, that's extraordinary."⁶
3. "Physically, it's absolutely no stress. It's like being on a motorbike."⁴

Related Pages on Mahalo

Yves Rossy | Aviation | English Channel | Switzerland | Steve Fossett | Steve Fossett Missing | Richard Branson

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