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September 26, 2008 — The third day was the charm.
After being grounded by poor weather for two days, Yves Rossy became the first person to fly across the English Channel using a jet-powered, carbon-fiber wing.
The Times Online reported that 49-year-old Rossy, who is known as Fusion Man, jumped from a plane about 2 miles above Calais, and then fired up the jets on the wings strapped to his back. Reaching speeds up to 125 mph and steering by controlling his head and back movements, Rossy made the 23-mile trip across the Channel in about 12 minutes, landing at 1:19 p.m. BST today.
The Times, which had permission to fly with the aircraft escorting the Swiss pilot, reported that Rossy was approaching the lighthouse at St Mary’s Bay when he performed a figure-of-eight and burned off remaining fuel. He then flew out over the beach, descended to 2,000 feet, opened his parachute, turned into the wind and steered toward the landing spot in the field where the media waited.
Before he left on his flight, Rossy said: “I’m not frightened. I never am in the sky.” He also said: “There should be no problem today. It feels right. The weather is holding.”
Although a hero in the world of extreme air sports and a former Swiss fighter pilot, Rossy is not a daredevil, The Times reported. He wears two parachutes when flying, as well as a flameproof suit.
Rossy followed the route of French aviator Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in an aircraft 99 years ago.
His flight was aired live on National Geographic TV; the site also features photos and other videos.
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The Swiss pilot Yves Rossy celebrates near Dover after flying with jet-propelled wings across the Channel from France
Rossy launched his flight from a Pilatus Porter near Calais, France.
Rossy parachutes towards his landing site near Dover after making the Channel crossing.
(Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty)
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