HumanBirdWings Guy Survives First Test Flight

Jordan Crook

Jordan Crook studied English Literature at New York University before entering the tech space. Prior to joining TechCrunch, Crook dabbled in mobile marketing and mobile apps as well as doing device reviews for MobileMarketer and MobileBurn. Crook is fascinated with alternative energy production and greentech. She is now a writer for CrunchGear. Hello → Learn More

Friday, January 20th, 2012
Screen shot 2012-01-20 at 2.03.55 PM

We first reported on Jarnos Smeets when his HumanBirdWings project was still a baby. He had successfully paired the accelerometers of a WiiMote and an HTC Wildfire S to control the outrunners on his wings, but hadn’t yet taken to the air.

Today, that all changes.

Jarnos and his DIY wings have, in fact, taken flight (albeit a very short one). You’ll see when you check out the video that “flight” looks a lot more like two or three extended hops, but it’s progress nonetheless and that’s exactly what we want to see.

It seems that what Jarnos needs now, to really take off, is a bit more speed during departure.

Update: It turns out that both Jarno Smeets and his “human birdwings” were a fabrication of Dutch filmmaker Floris Kaayk. A big ole avian hoax. Our apologies for giving this guy airtime. More here.