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'{{short description|Swiss military-trained pilot and an aviation enthusiast}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox aviator |image=Yves Rossi mg 4625.jpg |full_name=Yves Rossy |birth_date={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|8|27}} |birth_place= [[Neuchâtel]] |nationality= Swiss |known_for=First person to fly a jet engine-powered wing |air_force=[[Swiss Air Force]] |website={{URL|yvesrossy.com}} }} '''Yves Rossy''' (born 27 August 1959) is a Swiss military-trained [[aircraft pilot|pilot]] and an [[aviation]] enthusiast. He is known as the inventor of a series of experimental individual [[jet pack]]s, the latest using [[carbon-fiber]] wings for flight. Often referred to as "Jetman", Rossy has sometimes tested and presented new versions of his jet packs in high-profile events staged around the world. == Early life and career == Rossy was born in the Swiss canton of [[Neuchâtel]] in 1959. He served as a fighter pilot in the [[Swiss Air Force]], where he flew [[Dassault Mirage III]]s, [[Northrop F-5|Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs]], and [[Hawker Hunter]]s. He piloted [[Boeing 747]]s for [[Swissair]], and later for [[Swiss International Air Lines]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/sep/26/aeronautics ''Jet Man Flies Across Channel On a Wing'']; 26 September 2008; article; James Randerson; ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 25 September 2018.</ref> ==Jet wingpack== Rossy developed and built a [[Wingsuit flying|wingsuit system]] comprising a backpack equipped with semi-rigid aeroplane-type carbon-fiber wings—with a span of about {{convert|2.4|m|ft}}—powered by four [[Jetcat P400]] [[jet engine]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jetman.com/|title=Official Jetman web page}}</ref> modified from large kerosene-fueled model aircraft engines. This has led to him being referred to in the press by various [[moniker]]s, such as ''The Airman'', ''Rocketman'', ''Fusionman'', and—most commonly—''Jetman''.<ref>[http://www.jetman.ch ''Jet Man'']; Jetman Official website. Retrieved March 2014.</ref> ===Developmental flights=== [[File:Yves Rossi mg 4627.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Rossy's jet-powered wing]] In December 2006 (in Bex, Switzerland) Rossy became the first to successfully fly horizontally for six minutes using four jet engines and wings strapped on his back. He was quoted as saying: "The idea is to have fun, not to kill yourself".<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012102803/http://www.nbc11.com/news/10574159/detail.html |archive-date=2008-10-12 |url=http://www.nbc11.com/news/10574159/detail.html |url-status=dead |title=Bird? Plane? No, It's Jet Man |date=20 December 2006 |publisher=[[KNTV]]}}</ref> Since 2007 Rossy has conducted some of his flight tests from a private airfield, [[Skydive Empuriabrava]], in [[Empuriabrava]] ([[Girona]], [[Costa Brava]]), [[Spain]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tv3.cat/videos/71209 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516215813/http://www.tv3.cat/videos/71209 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2016 |title=Yves Rossy, "Jet Man", l'home a reacció |publisher=TV3 Catalonia |date=25 October 2007 |access-date=28 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.revistavanityfair.es/articulos/entrevistamos-a-yves-rossy-el-hombre-pajaro/19296 |title=Entrevistamos a Yves Rossy, el hombre pájaro en Skydive Empuriabrava |work=Vanity Fair |date=22 July 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015}}</ref> In May 2008 Rossy made a flight over the [[Alps|Alps Mountain Range]], reaching a top speed of {{convert|304|km/h|kn mi/h}}, and an average speed of {{convert|200|km/h|kn mi/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,355609,00.html ''Swiss 'Fusion Man' Flies Over the Alps with Jet-Propelled Wings'']; 15 May 2008 [[Fox News]]. Retrieved November 2015.</ref> On 26 September 2008, Jumping from a [[Pilatus Porter]] at an altitude of {{convert|2500|m}} over [[Calais]], [[France]], Rossy crossed the [[English Channel]] with a single jet-powered wing strapped on his back, wearing only a helmet and a flight suit for protection. Reaching speeds of up to {{convert|120|mph|order=flip}}, he made the {{convert|35|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}} flight to [[England]] in 13 minutes, where he deployed his parachute and landed in [[Dover]] becoming the first person to cross the Channel in this manner.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-jetmanint/fusion-man-makes-historic-channel-flight-idUSTRE48P63220080926 |first=Avril |last=Ormsby |title='Fusion Man' makes historic Channel flight |work=[[Reuters]]|date=26 September 2008}}</ref> In November 2009 Rossy attempted a crossing of the [[Strait of Gibraltar]], hoping to be the first person to fly between two continents using a "[[Jet pack#jet wingpack|Jet pack]]". He leapt from a small plane about 1,950&nbsp;m (6,500&nbsp;ft) above [[Tangier]] in [[Morocco]] and headed in the direction of Atlanterra, [[Spain]]. The flight was expected to take about a quarter of an hour. Strong winds and cloud banks forced Rossy to ditch into the sea just {{convert|3|mi|km nmi|order=flip|abbr=in}} from the Spanish coast, where his support [[helicopter]] picked him up ten minutes later, unhurt. The Spanish [[Coast Guard]] retrieved the jetpack, which was equipped with a parachute and float.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/25/jetman-falls-into-sea-try_n_370475.html |title=Yves Rossy, 'Jetman,' Falls into Sea Trying To Fly Between Continents |work=HuffPost |date= 25 November 2009|access-date=18 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8378974.stm |title=BC News: Jetman Yves Rossy fails in Africa-Europe flight attempt |work=BBC News |date=25 November 2009 |access-date=18 May 2010}}</ref> On 5 November 2010 Rossy flew a new version of his jet-powered flight system and successfully performed two aerial loops before landing via parachute. He had launched from a hot air balloon piloted by [[Brian Jones (aeronaut)|Brian Jones]] at 2,400 meters (7,900 feet).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/vaud/story/Le-nouvel-exploit-de--Jetman--en-vid-os--26443113 |title=Découvrez les Vidéos de l Exploit de "Jetman"! |date=11 November 2010 |work=20-minute video |language=fr |access-date=5 November 2010}}</ref> On 7 May 2011 Rossy flew above the [[Grand Canyon]] in [[Arizona]]. The United States [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) had classified his flight system as an aircraft. When it finally granted him a license, the FAA waived the normal 25 to 40 hours of flight testing time, and Rossy acted quickly to complete his flight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42977241 |title='JetMan' Pulls off Grand Canyon Flight—Quietly |publisher=[[NBC News]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700133144/FAA-JetMan-can-fly-over-Arizonas-Grand-Canyon.html FAA: ''JetMan Can Fly Over Arizona's Grand Canyon'']; [[Deseret News]]. Retrieved March 2014.</ref> == Latest media and event appearances == Rossy was featured on an episode of ''[[Stan Lee's Superhumans]]''.<ref>[http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/bios/rocket-man ''Rocket Man—Stan Lee's Superhumans''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003091843/http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/bios/rocket-man |date=3 October 2012 }}</ref> He has appeared on the BBC's ''Top Gear'', where he raced [[Richard Hammond]] and [[Toni Gardemeister]].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Rossy was a main attraction at the 2013 [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh|AirVenture]] Fly-In, America's largest fly-in.<ref>{{cite news | last=Caulfield| first=Phillip| title=Swiss 'Jetman' Yves Rossy flies above Wisconsin alongside B-17 bomber| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/swiss-jetman-flies-b-17-bomber-article-1.1412436| work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|access-date=31 July 2013| date=30 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=Good Day Wisconsin |station=[[WLUK]] |location=Green Bay, Wisconsin |date=31 July 2013 }}</ref> Rossy was also featured (not in person) in the South Australian Primary School's Music Festival in 2014, when the theme of the Festival was flight. The song, 'Jetman', was written by Paul Jarman about Yves Rossy .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pauljarman.com/composition/jetman/|title=Jetman|last=Jarman|first=Paul|year=2018|website=PaulJarman.com|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref> ===October 2015 sustained flight=== On 13 October 2015, Rossy and [[Vince Reffet]], wearing jetpacks, deployed from a helicopter flying at 5,500 feet (1,676 meters) and flew in a choreographed demonstration with an [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] [[Airbus A380]] cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) over [[Dubai]].<ref>[http://www.chip.de/news/Was.-Zur.-Hoelle.-YouTube-Star-Jetman-mit-irrem-Airbus-Stunt_85223734.html ''Was. Zur. Hölle.: YouTube-Star "Jetman" mit Irrem Airbus-Stunt'']</ref><ref>[http://www.20minutes.fr/insolite/1724795-20151105-video-vol-spectaculaire-deux-jetmen-cotes-avion-ligne Video. Le vol Spectaculaire de Deux "Jetmen" aux Côtés d'un Avion de Ligne]</ref> The flights were documented by the use of helmet-mounted cameras and third-party videos released in early November 2015. The videos show the pair soaring and diving around the airliner, flying in formation with it for about ten minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/11/05/jetman-dubai-emirates-a380/ |title=Watch Two 'Jetmen' Fly Alongside an A380 Superjumbo |author=James Trew |date=5 November 2015 |website=Engadget}}</ref> {{-}} A television program "City in the Sky, part 2"<ref>[[BBCTV2|BBC TV 2]], shown Sunday 12 June 2016 9pm to 10pm</ref> about how airliner flights are run, showed at its start Yves Rossy and Vince Reffet flying with Rossy-type jetpacks, to show some principles of how airliners fly. It said that before being allowed to jetpack-fly in Britain, he had to get himself [[Aircraft registration|registered as an aeroplane]], because parts of his body, rather than parts of his jetpack, acted as control surfaces; but he was exempted from the seat-belt rule. It showed him being lifted to flying height on the outside of a helicopter. He had to fall a distance to build up enough [[air speed]] for his [[airfoil]]s to work.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03xll29 ''City in the Sky'', part 2]</ref> ===2020 Dubai Ground Takeoff=== Rossy demonstrated for the first time, the ability of his jet pack to perform a vertical takeoff and transition to sustained horozontal flight. How he accomplished this feat still remains a mystery. Still claiming that the 4 P550 micro jets are the only source of propulsion on the system. It is possible that miniature rocket thrusters assist with the initial takeoff. It is unlikely that micro turbines alone generate the required thrust and speed the system needs to transition to horizontal flight. Where the micro jets are usually supplemented by the lift the wings create ==References== Official Jetman web page". Jet Man; Jetman Official website; accessed March 2014. "Bird? Plane? No, It's Jet Man". KNTV. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. "Yves Rossy, "Jet Man", l'home a reacció". TV3 Catalonia. 25 October 2007. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2014. "Entrevistamos a Yves Rossy, el hombre pájaro en Skydive Empuriabrava". Vanity Fair. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015. Swiss 'Fusion Man' Flies Over the Alps with Jet-Propelled Wings; 15 May 2008 Fox News; accessed November 2015. Ormsby, Avril (26 September 2008). "'Fusion Man' makes historic Channel flight". Reuters. "Yves Rossy, 'Jetman,' Falls Into Sea Trying To Fly Between Continents". Huffingtonpost.com. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2010. "BC News: Jetman Yves Rossy fails in Africa-Europe flight attempt". BBC News. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2010. [https://www.engadget.com/2018-11-12-jetman-ground-based-jetpack-flying.html 23. https://www.engadget.com/2018-11-12-jetman-ground-based-jetpack-flying.html]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch real-life Iron Men do the first jetpack launch from the ground|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018-11-12-jetman-ground-based-jetpack-flying.html|access-date=2021-05-08|website=Engadget|language=en-US}}</ref> ==External links== {{Commons category|Yves Rossy}} {{External media| |width = 400px | image1= [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724224549/http://www.adventureblog.org/images/yves-rossy-2_1822.jpg Yves Rossy] | image2= [https://web.archive.org/web/20081021131922/http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/images/YvesRossy.jpg In flight] | image3= [https://web.archive.org/web/20090326082248/http://blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/technology/metamedia/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/jetman2.jpg Wing] |}} * [https://yvesrossy.com/ Website of "''Jet Man''"] * [http://www.ted.com/talks/yves_rossy_fly_with_the_jetman.html ''TEDTalk Video''] * [http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/pilots-adventures-more/video-jetmen-rocket-over-dubai ''Flying Above Dubai with Vince Reffet'']; 4K video. * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFCQJ5sYGtI ''Emirates A380 and Jetman in Dubai Formation Flight'']; YouTube video by Emirates Airline. {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rossy, Yves}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Neuchâtel]] [[Category:Swiss aviators]] [[Category:Swiss inventors]] [[Category:Swiss skydivers]] [[Category:Swiss military officers]] [[Category:Swiss Air Force personnel]]'