Post by EJ on Sept 22, 2009 23:11:04 GMT -8
I'll be the first to admit, when Jennifer sent this to me in email, I thought she'd had some fun with PhotoShop. But this is actually 100% real and 100% real right now! If this is *now*... what kinds of transportation will be not just available but common by Prime Time? Hm....
Yves Rossy (born 27 August 1959) is a Swiss pilot, inventor and aviation enthusiast. He is nicknamed Jet Man and Fusion Man for being the first person to achieve sustained human flight using a jet-powered fixed wing strapped to his back (see below for more details).
Rossy developed and built a system comprising a back pack with rigid aeroplane-type carbon-fiber wings with a span of about 2.4 metres (7.9 ft), powered by four attached jet engines modified from model aircraft engines. His first flight occurred in November 2006 in Bex, lasting nearly six minutes. Yves later successfully flew across the English Channel on 26 September 2008 in under 10 minutes (9 minutes 7 seconds), reaching a speed of 125 mph during the crossing. Later in 2008 he made a flight over the Alps reaching a top speed of 189mph.
Yves has served as a fighter pilot in the Swiss Air Force, flying Dassault Mirage IIIs, Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs and Hawker Hunters. He also flew Boeing 747s for Swissair and now pilots an Airbus A320 for Swiss International Air Lines.
More details:
Swiss ex-military and commercial pilot Yves Rossy developed and built a winged pack with rigid aeroplane-type carbon-fiber wings spanning about 8 feet (2.4 m) and four small kerosene-burning jet engines underneath; these engines are large versions of a type designed for model aeroplanes. He wears a heat-resistant suit similar to that of a firefighter or racing driver to protect him from the hot jet exhaust. Similarly, the engines are modified with the addition of a carbon fibre heat shield extending the jet nozzle around the exhaust tail, to further protect the wearer.
Rossy is "the first person to gain altitude and maintain a stable horizontal flight thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings," which are folded by hinges at the midpoint of each wing. After being lifted to altitude by a plane, he ignites the engines just before he exits the plane with the wings folded. The wings unfold while in free-fall, and he is then able to fly horizontally for several minutes, landing using a parachute. He achieves true controlled flight using his body and a hand throttle to maneuver.
The system is said by Rossy to be highly responsive and reactive in flight, to the point where he needs to closely control his head, arm and leg movements in order not to enter an uncontrolled spin. The engines on the wing require the achievement of a precise common alignment during set-up, in order to also prevent instability. An electronic starter system ensures all four engines ignite simultaneously. In the event of a spin, the wing unit can be detached from the pilot, and both pilot and wing unit descend to Earth on separated parachutes.
Rossy's jetpack was exhibited on 18 April 2008 at the opening day of the 35th Exhibition of Inventions at Geneva. Rossy and his sponsors spent (only!) $190,000 to build the device.
EJ
Yves Rossy (born 27 August 1959) is a Swiss pilot, inventor and aviation enthusiast. He is nicknamed Jet Man and Fusion Man for being the first person to achieve sustained human flight using a jet-powered fixed wing strapped to his back (see below for more details).
Rossy developed and built a system comprising a back pack with rigid aeroplane-type carbon-fiber wings with a span of about 2.4 metres (7.9 ft), powered by four attached jet engines modified from model aircraft engines. His first flight occurred in November 2006 in Bex, lasting nearly six minutes. Yves later successfully flew across the English Channel on 26 September 2008 in under 10 minutes (9 minutes 7 seconds), reaching a speed of 125 mph during the crossing. Later in 2008 he made a flight over the Alps reaching a top speed of 189mph.
Yves has served as a fighter pilot in the Swiss Air Force, flying Dassault Mirage IIIs, Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs and Hawker Hunters. He also flew Boeing 747s for Swissair and now pilots an Airbus A320 for Swiss International Air Lines.
More details:
Swiss ex-military and commercial pilot Yves Rossy developed and built a winged pack with rigid aeroplane-type carbon-fiber wings spanning about 8 feet (2.4 m) and four small kerosene-burning jet engines underneath; these engines are large versions of a type designed for model aeroplanes. He wears a heat-resistant suit similar to that of a firefighter or racing driver to protect him from the hot jet exhaust. Similarly, the engines are modified with the addition of a carbon fibre heat shield extending the jet nozzle around the exhaust tail, to further protect the wearer.
Rossy is "the first person to gain altitude and maintain a stable horizontal flight thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings," which are folded by hinges at the midpoint of each wing. After being lifted to altitude by a plane, he ignites the engines just before he exits the plane with the wings folded. The wings unfold while in free-fall, and he is then able to fly horizontally for several minutes, landing using a parachute. He achieves true controlled flight using his body and a hand throttle to maneuver.
The system is said by Rossy to be highly responsive and reactive in flight, to the point where he needs to closely control his head, arm and leg movements in order not to enter an uncontrolled spin. The engines on the wing require the achievement of a precise common alignment during set-up, in order to also prevent instability. An electronic starter system ensures all four engines ignite simultaneously. In the event of a spin, the wing unit can be detached from the pilot, and both pilot and wing unit descend to Earth on separated parachutes.
Rossy's jetpack was exhibited on 18 April 2008 at the opening day of the 35th Exhibition of Inventions at Geneva. Rossy and his sponsors spent (only!) $190,000 to build the device.
EJ
Well... for those with a deep pocketbook, you don't have to be an Immortal... nor do you have to wait for the future.
