The most appropriate sponsor for a Swiss Pilot!
Yves Rossy, a.k.a. “Jetman”, made his first US flight using his personal jet pack over the Grand Canyon. Impossible? When I first saw this, I thought it was a gag. I’m not telling you that personal jet packs will be sold retail in the forseeable future. The price would be out of this world, and try to imagine the price of product liability insurance on one of these. Still, seeing a person actually fly with a jet pack is impressive.
Before we get too excited, let’s step back as we note that the man, a former fighter pilot from Switzerland still has to launch from a helicopter and land using a parachute.
Still, one must admit that it excites the imagination. I suppose it’s too soon to say if this will remain as a novelty, or have a commercial or military future as an escape module, or other application.
A product that might have real practical use is the Gryphon WingSuit, which the maker claims will enable soldiers to glide on a 5:1 ration with full heads up navigation.
The next step in extreme parachuting?
In the meantime, I can’t think of a better sponsor for the Swiss flier than one of their better known watch makers.
