Rocketman jumps from plane with jet-pack wings

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There are only a few things more exciting than being a technology blogger, like jumping out of an airplane at 7,500 feet above the Swiss Alps strapped into rocket-powered jet wings. That’s what Yves Rossy of Switzerland just did.

According to the Associated Press,

Rossy, 48, had stepped out of the Swiss-built Pilatus Porter aircraft at 7,500 feet and unfolded the rigid eight-foot wings strapped to his back before jumping.

Passing from free fall to a gentle glide, Rossy then triggered four jet turbines and accelerated to 186 miles per hour, about 65 miles per hour faster than the typical falling skydiver. A plane that flew at some distance beside him measured his speed…

…Steering with his body, Rossy dived, turned and soared again, performing what appeared to be effortless loops from one side of the Rhone valley to the other. At times he rose 2,600 feet before descending again.

After one last wave to the crowd the rocket man tipped his wings, flipped onto his back and leveled out again, executing a perfect 360-degree roll.

Rossy says that his next goal is to use the wings to fly across the English channel and he’d eventually like to fly through the Grand Canyon.