Flying the Channel with the human jet

A small black shape dropped into sight in my aeroplane's windscreen as we circled high over Calais in a brilliant blue haze after lunch today. Yves Rossy had just leaped from the safety of his jump plane. Following behind, we watched in awe as "Fusionman" extended the eight foot wings strapped to his back, ending his free-fall and swooped into level flight.

Like a black hawk, Rossy  throttled up his four little but noisy jets, accelerating in level flight to over 100 knots and headed out towards the thin white line that shimmered through the haze on the other side of the Channel.  The distant Dover Cliffs were the only thing we could make out in the intense blue goldfish bowl in which sky meets the sea with no horizon.

The Times' Cessna 182 was part of the little squadron of two helicopters and two planes that escorted Rossy as he made history, zooming like Buzz Lightyear, the spaceman of Toy Story, out into the wide blue yonder. Protected by a special air corridor, we tucked in behind the Pilatus Porter drop plane which was guiding Rossy, following him just above like a body guard, with the two yellow helicopters in tow.  Six thousand feet below, Channel ferries zig-zagged through the dense stream of container ships.

The helicopter escort was comfort, should Rossy have been forced to ditch among the  shipping in the cold grey-green water. But his path did not waver as we sped along in his wake, a member of a strange flock of birds following their jet-powered human leader in extended V formation. 

Unlike Rossy, we were in a warm cockpit behind controls and a reassuring engine,  talking to air traffic control and with GPS navigation. Rossy has no instruments except an audio altimeter in his helmet and his wristwatch. And, apart from the throttle, he has no flight controls, just his body. To steer, climb or descend he moves his head and limbs slightly, a skill he first learned as a sky-diver. "I fuse with my machine. It was my dream as a boy to be a bird," he told me before the flight.

Within 10 minutes, the white lighthouse on Saint Margaret's bay hove into slight and the jetman descended, wheeling into a left turn as he crossed the coastline. Along with the flock we pulled aside to get out of his way as Rossy performed a spectacular "victory" figure of eight, turning out over the sea again to face the wind. We watched from just above as his blue, steerable parachute unfurled and Rossy lined up with the field where  the media crowd waited.  No-one said anything on the radio. "Bravo !". The cheer went up from my French companions in the Cessna when we saw Rossy  touch down. "Spectaculaire!"

Much the same would have been heard near the same spot 99 years ago this year when Louis Blériot swooped down in his monoplane, becoming the first powered aeroplane pilot to fly the Channel (balloon and dirigible pilots did it before Blériot)

Rossy, cheerful, gangly and boyish was coolness itself before take-off. "There should be no problem today," he said as he tucked into pasta and mineral water in a tent beside the old air terminal that still welcomes arrivals with a sign saying "Gateway to the Continent". "It feels right. The weather is holding", he said.

Red wine was on the table, but Fusionman touched none.  On Thursday, Rossy cancelled because of fog which he said gave him butterflies in the stomach, a warning sign that he does not ignore.  Minutes after our lunch, he donned his flame-retardant flight suit and his team  wheeled out his wings to the Pilatus. Close up, the black Kevlar and foam wings with their four Thermos sized engines look distinctly home made, which they are. Rossy strapped on the contraption and took position in the Pilatus cabin, which has a flame-proof floor. That is because he lights his four engines standing on a platform by the open door  with two of the motors still inside. Several fire extinguishers are held at the ready.

   "See you the other side, he waved' at his team as we took off ahead of the Pilatus to climb to await him.
The world's latest aviation pioneer has only a weekend to absorb the adrenalin. On Monday, he takes command of his usual "office" -- the captain's seat in a Swiss International Airbus 320 in which he will fly tourists to Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh.

CLICK CONTINUE FOR MORE PICTURES

  Below: Rossy's landing near Dover. Below that, pictures before take-off:

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Comments

[richard.jones]

Vive les Vaudois!!!!

[Joan Arles]

Fantastic!
Hats off to Yves Rossy...
and well done, Charles for your exclusive... Nice to have some good news for once. Vive l'aviation...

[Remi]

Interesting feedback
Merci beaucoup!

[Ned Kitchel]

Well done rocket man. I watched it live on TV and felt great excitement at your success of this great achievement. This is good news for a change. I stand in awe.

Quite inspiring. God speed!

[Francois D]

It's Icarus's myth, in live. But mythology also tells us that man always desires to go further, with risk of being confronted with his own condition.
It is very healthy for him to work on next Monday! Swiss are very serious.

I am very surprised by this comment in Le Figaro:
"In political terms, this feat can cause reactions in UK. Crossing Bleriot in July 1909 had surprised the British and led to the creation of a air law banning overflights without authorization, creating traffic rights, etc.. That a man arrives in England without taking the train, boat or plane, raises questions ... "

Is it serious or a joke?

FanFreakinTastic! The pioneer spirit lives!

[Bernard Pereire]

Wow, as the English say. I watched on France 3 TV almost live at luntime today. This gentleman must be truly crazy, but how wonderful.

[Claire93]

C'est super... pour une fois une réussite, même si ce n'est pas français.

[Morgan Madej]

With all the doom and gloom in the media it's so refreshing to hear about one mans personal achievement to not only fly but to cross the English Channel and make history! He must surely inspire the younger generation with his courage and daring mode of travel.Truly a hero in a world sorely lacking heroic deeds.Congratulations to Yves Rossy,I was in awe when I first saw him flying on TVN24 here in Poland, he made my day!Thank you Charles I enjoyed your article.

[Peake A C]

I see from one of the photos, that one of the first people to greet him on landing was a "copper", was he going to "nick" him for an unorthodox entry to the UK or congratulate him??

[Steve Morris]

WOW!! How marvellous and wonderful is that? Truly, a man that can fly. Icarus would have been in awe of this!

Who has not dreamed of travelling like that - the little moves, the euphoric embedness of the free experience - this is surely a realisation of the true dream to fly that seems imbued in so many of us.

What price the special air corridors? There's a market for empty space if ever I saw it ... ha, in my dreams!

[Robert Marchenoir]

How many reporters fly their own plane to report a story unfolding in the middle of the sky? That's a nice one.

[Ishwar Singh Rawat]

Hi to all,
congrats! to Mr Yves Rossy.
This is very fantastic and well done finish and made history for ever. This is truly that man can made it.

[Dave Wilkinson]

Well Done, I fly model jets using the same engines, and I fly microlights.
I can only imagine how difficult it has been to pioneer this type of flying.
What an inspiration to everyone

[Michael Robertson]

This is a wonderful success for Yves Rossy, who has come up with a truly original invention, and potentially a new form of sport aviation for others to enjoy. Not just that, but he has also struck a small blow against the gathering paternalist disdain of all things to do with aviation, and flying for pleasure. It’s a wonder that this was even reported by the BBC, given their policy of reducing any and every story on aviation to a discussion of its “carbon footprint!”

I hope he continues to have every success in his venture.

[Don]

Since Sarkozy is the traveling President par excellence and since he likes to take over from his Ministers whenever the cameras are rolling, I assumed this was another one of his Excellency's stunts.

But, Lo ! It was a mere mortal.
Encore plus magnifique!

Bravo, M. Rassy !! The human spirit is alive and well.

[Mads]

I just want to add my 'wow' and congratulations. A truly amazing feat and how great for us to have a reporter literally 'at the scene'. Thank you Charles. The spirit of Icarus and human endeavour lives on. So inspiring. I like the fact that he will be returning to the day job on Monday; somehow reassuring.

[christopher muir]

Really impressive. He sounded incredibly calm in his post-flight interview while being impressively modest. Here's a man to shame boozy, wealthy international sportsmen - surely a real hero, a model for youths.

[Michael]

Coming soon to a war zone near you.

Paratroopers who can drop from planes 20 miles from the attack zone

I can hear the generals in the Pentagon getting very excited right now

[richard.jones]

C'est super... pour une fois une réussite, même si ce n'est pas français.

@claire93

C'était quand-même francophone!!!

C'était plutôt une réussite sans nationalité, un homme contre la nature.

[nick]

Its fantastic to see the sprit of human adventure is still alive, someone who is able to grasp the nettle.
A true pioneer. Well done Sir.

[azloon]

this is a great story made better by having a great reporter to report it -- as only he is capable of.

chapeau a vous, CB.

btw, google news linked your first-person account so you've now had your 30 seconds (2 minutes?) of exposure to the known universe.

do you have an agent?

:)

[richard.jones]

@Michael,

I doubt much
Pentagonic interest! The whole idea of paratroop landings is for them to be in the air, where they are an easy target, for as little time as possible. The popular image of paratroopers dropped very much from on high is erroneous. Most drops are at less than 5,000ft.
M. Rossy's arrival would also be noisy and infra-red visible for a few minutes. I think he might well be DOA.

[idealistic]

Quelle merveilleuse prouesse;on pourra désormais traverser la Manche avec des ailes à réaction.

[Andy]

Bravo! I've followed this inspiring madman since your original post complete with Moby soundtrack. Really well done.

[Valentin]

Why not make these things available for the public, I wonder, a bit like <50cc motorbikes. We could all spend our weekends flying over the local chateau - or over the english channel, when Eurostar fails to deliver.

[Nicholas O'Brien]

A very brave man.
However, this was nothing more than a controlled descent. It was not a straight and level flight.
He had to launch from 8,000+ feet.
He did not take off under his own power.
A microlight aircraft could easily cross the Channel, having taken off under its own power.
Also, a modern glider towed to 8,000 feet could glide for 40 miles, easily crossing the Channel
Nicholas O'Brien

[You are wrong, Nicholas. It was not a controlled descent. He flew straight and level under his own power for 20 miles, even accelerating and climbing towards the end when his fuel load was less. (I know, I had to accelerate to follow him). He dropped higher than the crossing altitude because he needs to open his wings in freefall. And what does the fact that microlights and gliders cover big distances have to do with Rossy's achievement ? They are classical aircraft with fuselages, wings and controls. Microlights and gliders often cross the channel. Sky-divers can also guide their trajectory and slow their descent with wings and body suits. There are also motorised paragliders and so on. But Rossy's machine is completely different. He is part of a powered aircraft. Not sitting on one or hanging under one. His body is the fuselage and controls. CB)

[Francois D]

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXxkWXncuo

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ip2NL4nPOLg

and his delicious swiss accent..

[dot king]

"he tucked into pasta and mineral"

I trust this simple diet was specially devised to increase his airspeed and buoyancy in a natural "bio" way :)

Charles, your enthusiasm for this exploit is especially betrayed by your reference to Toy Story - I shall now no longer hesitate to quote at length from Winnie the Pooh!

Nowthen, how big is the hero's carbon footprint, given all the air traffic engendered?

;D

[Nicholas O'Brien]

Point taken. Thank you
N.O'B

[dot king]

I've just now found the time to watch Charles' video and to view the two posted by François D and all joking apart (I can't help it) this is breathtaking - and very scary.
Just to have the courage to try is one thing, but to really do it - double WOW!!
What does he do for an encore? :)

[Lou - Paradise MD]

Great story, but.... for those of us not familiar with the channel, how far (in miles) was it at the point he crossed? The only thing I couln't find in the article.
[Sorry, it was linked to the news story. It's 22 miles wide at that point. CB]

[Daniel Strohl]

AZLOON,

"do you have an agent?"

Rob, if I understood well what the presentator of Swiss TV where we watched the feat was saying : Mr.Rossy plans or at least thinks of a flight over or in the Great Canyon - the latter is more or less in your backyard :)

Therefore, you would be the ideal agent for Mr.Rossy and for Charles ...

[azloon]

Daniel --

CB is welcome to use my guest house if the Grand Canyon project materializes.

he will learn, if he decides to cover it, that air travel over the Canyon is severely restricted since it is a designated wilderness area where airplane noises are deemed to be noise pollution. so difficult-to-obtain clearances are necessary.

the requirements were brought about, besides noise pollution, by a number of small tourist airplane crashes in the canyon over the past decade, apparently the result of unpredictable wind patterns created above the Canyon.

overflights of the Canyon are a favorite side trip for foreign tourists visiting las vegas so many of those killed have been french (who are fascinated with arizona).

evil knievel was once going to catapult his motorcycle over the Canyon (aided by small jet engines a la fusionman) but opted instead for the snake river canyon in idaho where he nearly destroyed himself.

a country's basic psychological health, imo, is measured by its most creative and adventurous citizens. by this measure, i pronounce switzerland healthy since Rossi is swiss.

the guy who walked at tightwire between the twin towers of the world trade center, frenchman Philippe Petit, is one of my heroes.

where is the next Phillipe Petit?

[Daniel Strohl]

AZLOON,

"where is the next Phillipe Petit?"

That's NOT me !

[English Channel Ferries]

And I though the best way to make your entry to France was by crossing the English channel on a ferry on a sunny summer day !. Brave man, flying just after lunch :)