Astronaut for Hire

Jetman crosses the Grand Canyon

5/16/2011 02:14:00 PM

Every since he developed his personal jet pack and made headlines crossing the English Channel, the "Jetman" Yvess Rossy has captured my attention. Over the decades, many have tried to create jet packs to fulfill our collective desire for personal flight freedom, but the Jetman has come closest to making that dream happen.

Rossy made worldwide headlines again this week by successfully completing a spellbinding 8-minute flight 200 feet above the Grand Canyon at speeds up to 190 miles per hour. Check out the video courtesy the AOPA below.  You can read more about his canyon-crossing crusade from the AOPA, Popular Science and the Washington Post.



For the past two years, the Swiss adventure pilot has been refining his wing design and modifying his four rocket engines to operate on 20% bioethanol to lower his carbon footprint.  He also made a failed attempt to win the Webtel.mobi Intercontinental Challenge crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.

In related news, similar personal jetpacks from the Martin Aircraft Company are now commercially available! If you have $100,000 lying around, you could own one of TIME's 50 Best Inventions of 2010.

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