Man with Jet Wings crosses English Channel

by Jacob Cherian    October 02, 2008

DOVER, England (GroundReport) - According to published reports, a Swiss daredevil crossed the English Channel using a homemade jet-propelled wing Friday. He parachuted into a field near the white cliffs of Dover after flying solo for 10 minutes.

Yves Rossy jumped off a plane at more than 8,800 feet (2,500 meters) to begin his daredeveil act. He fired up his jets and made the 22-mile (35-kilometer) trip from Calais in France. Rossy flew past a thin strip of land in front of South Foreland lighthouse and opened his parachute with his jet-wings still strapped to his back, The Associated Press reported.

''It was perfect. Blue sky, sunny, no clouds, perfect conditions,'' said Rossey. ''We prepared everything and it was great.''

His flight across the Channel is the identical route taken by French aviator Louis Bleriot almost a century ago. He was the first person to cross the channel in an airplane 99 years ago.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

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