A Swiss airline pilot and adventurer, known as Rocket Man, has moved closer to becoming the first jet-powered bird man to cross the Channel.
Yves Rossy completed a 10-minute test flight last week with his jet-powered wing strapped to his back. He flew for more than 22 miles, equivalent to a flight from Calais to Dover – the route first flown by Louis Blériot in 1909.
The test flight, which had been postponed several times because of engine problems, saw Rossy jump out of a small plane 7,500ft above the town of Bex, in Switzerland. Reaching 180mph, he flew through clear skies to Villeneuve and back.
Rossy, wearing a heat-resistant suit similar to those worn by racing drivers, steered by shifting his weight or simply turning his head and shoulders. He deployed two parachutes at 5,000ft and 4,000ft to land at Bex airfield with two litres of fuel left.
(...)
Rossy is due to cross the Channel on September 24, weather permitting. The event will be broadcast live in 165 countries by the National Geographic Channel. “My flight will be a tribute to all those who came before me, many of whom were killed,” he said. More...
See also:
No comments:
Post a Comment