The team at Jetman Dubai built a jet-powered wingsuit and say they just reached a major milestone with it -- a pilot took-off from the ground and then transitioned into a high-altitude flight. Photo: XDubai/YouTube
You will not believe your eyes after watching the video, but believe us when we say this is completely real. We may be closer to a real-life Iron Man suit than you realize.
The team at Jetman Dubai built a jet-powered wingsuit, which created a real-life Iron Man. Jetman Dubai says they have reached a major milestone with it – the first-ever 100% vertical autonomous human flight. For the first time in the company’s history, pilot Vince Reffet took off from the ground and was able to transition into a high-altitude flight.
During the three-minute flight, Reffet flew up to 6,000 feet and reached an average speed of 150mph. He also demonstrated the ability to hover, stop, turn, and maneuver well within his wingsuit. After his flight, Reffet deployed his parachute before landing safely to the ground.
The Jetman pilots have previously launched off of elevated platforms but this is the first time they have launched from the ground. The company says their next big objective is to land back on the ground after a flight at altitude, without needing a parachute.
The carbon-fiber wingsuit is powered by four jet engines, and the team’s engineers were able to create a manually controlled nozzle that allows pilots “to control rotations around the yaw axis at zero speeds.”
The yaw axis is perpendicular to the wings and allows the pilot to turn left and right while flying horizontally.
Reffet conducted at least 50 preparatory flights, and he practiced more than 100 takeoffs and landings while under a cable and with a fall arresting system as a precautionary measure.
Experts say this is a major step forward towards 100% autonomous human flight.