- #36
hypatia
- 1,177
- 9
"It required several meetings with the Swiss government before Yves managed to prove that he was not an 'unidentified flying object in Swiss airspace'.
{giggles}
Ivan Seeking said:
DailyMail said:It all looks fairly simple on paper. But if so, how come no one else has done this before?
DOVER, England - A Swiss daredevil crossed the English Channel strapped to a homemade jet-propelled wing Friday, parachuting into a field near the white cliffs of Dover after a 10-minute solo flight.
Yves Rossy leapt from a plane at more than 8,800 feet (2,500 meters), fired up his jets and made the 22-mile (35-kilometer ) trip from Calais in France. Rossy passed over a thin strip of land in front of South Foreland lighthouse, looped over onlookers and opened his parachute, his wings still strapped to his back.
"It was perfect. Blue sky, sunny, no clouds, perfect conditions," he said. "We prepared everything and it was great."
mgb_phys said:Somebody did the same thing a couple of years ago without the jets.
He had a suit with a sail between his arms and legs (like a flying squirrel), was dropped from a plane over france and glided to England.
Math Jeans said:Actually, those aren't for full-on flying. Those are for controlled steering when you skydive. You still need a parachute.
mgb_phys said:Yes, but he still managed to glide 25miles in one across the channel. I think rocket man still needs a parachute to land,
mgb_phys said:This guy is being dropped from a plane, at the height he is being dropped he doesn't need the rockets to do anything he could glide just on the wing.
mgb_phys said:This guy is being dropped from a plane, at the height he is being dropped he doesn't need the rockets to do anything he could glide just on the wing.
mgb_phys said:But sadly jets beat simple pedal power, the peddle your airship across the channel attempt failed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/7640310.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossamer_AlbatrossThe Gossamer Albatross was a human-powered aircraft built by American aeronautical engineer Dr. Paul B. MacCready's AeroVironment. On June 12, 1979 it completed a successful crossing of the English Channel to win the second Kremer prize.
Dr Lots-o'watts said:Hey that first loop was yesterday!
I'd be satisfied to fly along the Grand Canyon or Alps. The next step is to put fuel tanks in the wings for longer flight.Ivan Seeking said:He does a roll now too.
Ivan Seeking said:Jetman vs jets
DaveC426913 said:MAN that is six kinds of freakin' awesome!
Flying in formation with fighter jets!
MAN!