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Title: You Must See This Historic Flight
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Published: May 16, 2008
Author: wired
Post Date: 2008-05-16 21:47:16 by tom007
Keywords: None
Views: 340
Comments: 14
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#1. To: All (#0)
"Satan / Cheney in "08" Playing to a mesmerized audience, Swiss pilot and adventurer (some might say nutcase) Yves Rossy has soared above the Alps with homemade jet-powered wings strapped to his back. Rossy, an extreme sports guy who has spent years assembling his wings, casually stepped out of an airplane at 7,500 feet, unfolded the wings and quickly passed from free fall to mellow glide. He then fired up the wings' engines and accelerated to more than 180 mph. As if that weren't cool enough, Rossy showed off a bit, making a few dives, some figure eights and a 360-degree barrel roll before landing at an airfield near Lake Geneva. "That was to impress the girls," he said after the five-minute flight. It's not your average DIY project, but then again Rossy doesn't seem to be your average guy. One look at the video proves that. Fusionman, as the 47-year-old adventurer calls himself, is intimately familiar with flight. As a military pilot he spent years flying Hunter, Tiger F-5 and Mirage III jets, and he flies airliners for Swiss International Airlines. He's spent several years developing the carbon fiber wing, which is eight feet long and features four German jet engines that provide 200 pounds of thrust. Rossy and his sponsors, which include the Swiss watch company Hublot, have spent $190,000 on the project, and with no plans to bring the wing to market, there's no guarantee they'll get a return on their investment. The flight above the Alps was a big test for Fusionman and his wings, and it went off without a hitch. His mother wasn't even worried, explaining to the Associated Press, "He knows what he's doing." But it hasn't always been smooth sailing -- er, flying -- for Rossy. Damage to a set of test wings in 2007 forced him to build another prototype, and he lost control during a jump three years ago and didn't deploy his chute until he was a mere 1,500 feet above the ground. Soaring above the Alps is only the start. Rossy is planning to cross the English Channel -- a flight of about 23 miles -- by the end of the year. But his dream is to fly over the Grand Canyon. Photos from Rossy's website.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" I had to turn down the offensive music.
The engines look similar to what they use on RC aircraft. I used to fly them, and for the heck of it I priced these jet engines. About $7500 per. I wonder how he controls it. Like hang gliding? Or are there control surfaces? Cool video!
http://policestateusa.net/
When I was younger; I thought we would ALL have one of these by the 21st Century. I'm really disappointed...
There were a number of comments congruent with your sentiments at wired.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" http://www.motorsandrotors.com/downloads/Jet%20Cat%20Turbines%20_tech%20s This is supposed to be the link to the engines. I have not been there.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" would you try that? ;)
Only if you shoved me out of the plane.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" Only if you want to change my diaper afterward.
I shall not vote for evil, lesser or otherwise.
I wonder how he controls it. Like hang gliding? Or are there control surfaces? According to the article I read earlier they are RC engines, and he controls it by simply leaning or "body English" left, right up and down. He has to concentrate on relaxing because if he stiffens up his control is compromised. Wanna bet that they build some for secret (American and Israeli) military ops? The black budget can absorb the costs no matter how ridiculous. And, of course Hollywood will have to have a few so, they may go into limited production for high end customers after all.
hehehe..stay grounded. ;P
Neat, but I could have done without the gay man's song.
God is always good!
Looks like a blast.
#2. To: All (#1)
#3. To: tom007 (#0)
#4. To: tom007 (#1)
#5. To: tom007 (#0)
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
#6. To: buckeye (#3)
I had to turn down the offensive music.
#7. To: PSUSA (#4)
#8. To: tom007 (#0)
#9. To: christine (#8)
#10. To: christine (#8)
#11. To: PSUSA (#4)
The engines look similar to what they use on RC aircraft. I used to fly them, and for the heck of it I priced these jet engines. About $7500 per.
#12. To: Critter (#10)
#13. To: tom007 (#0)
#14. To: tom007 (#0)
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS." ~ Mahatma Ghandi
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