Fusion Man
At last check, the Euros were trying to destroy the world with a Dr. Evil-like super-colliding orgasmatron. No worries, here comes Fusion Man …
A Swiss man has become the first person to fly solo across the English Channel using a single jet-propelled wing.
Yves Rossy landed safely after the 22-mile (35.4 km) flight from Calais to Dover, which had been twice postponed this week because of bad weather.
The former military pilot took less than 10 minutes to complete the crossing and parachute to the ground.
The 49-year-old flew on a plane to more than 8,200ft (2,500m), ignited jets on a wing on his back, and jumped out.
Mr Rossy had hoped to reach speeds of 125mph.It felt “great, really great”, said Mr Rossy: “I only have one word, thank you, to all the people who did it with me.”He said weather conditions on Friday had been perfect and his success signalled “big potential” for people to fly “a little bit like a bird” in the future.
Known as “Fusionman,” he was aiming to follow the route taken by French airman Louis Blériot 99 years ago when he became the first person to fly across the English Channel in a plane.
In Dover, Mr Rossy flew past South Foreland lighthouse - which the building’s manager Simon Ovenden said Blériot used as a target during his pioneering flight - and looped onlookers before landing in a field.
Fusion Man …
… he flies like a bird!
… a bird that’s been rocketed off the back of a somewhat antiquated-looking aeroplane … mind the prop, Fusion Man!
… and he soars …
… high above the houses and farms!
He is Fusion Man …
Further updates on Euro-usefulness to follow.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 1:12 pm on Friday, September 26, 2008
2 Responses to “Fusion Man”
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September 26th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
That’s incredibly awesome!!!! But where are the frickin’ laser beams?
September 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I foresee a whole new bureaucracy here, formed to grant licenses and determine traffic patterns for the jet wing. See if I’m right.