'Fusionman' breaks flight record

A Swiss adventurer has become the first person to fly solo across the English Channel using a single jet-propelled wing. Known as Fusionman, Yves Rossy, 49, landed in an English field after around ten minutes having jumped from a plane above France and fired up the four kerosene-burning jets on his homemade wing to soar across the Channel. He ignited the jets inside the plane before jumping out more than 8,000 feet (2,400 metres) above ground and flew at speeds approaching 125mph. Mr Rossy wore a special suit, helmet and parachute as part of the precautions to protect him from the jet turbines mounted just centimetres from him on the wing for the 22-mile flight. After a period of free fall he opened the wing and soared across the water. With no steering controls, the only way to change direction was like a bird, moving his head and back. When he reached the UK, he released his parachute and drifted down gently before landing in a field yards from the the white cliffs of Dover. The daredevil said he felt "great, really great" and added: "I only have one word, thank you, to all the people who did it with me." Mr Rossy, who normally flies an Airbus airliner, was aiming to trace the route of French aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in a plane 99 years ago. His bid on Thursday had to be shelved when a late build-up of cloud in Dover, Kent, hampered visibility. It was the second setback for professional pilot Mr Rossy who earlier this week had to postpone his first bid, again due to poor weather conditions. After Thursday's aborted attempt, he said: "My eyes are my best instruments and in these conditions it's just too dangerous." The daredevil attempt by Mr Rossy has led to him being compared to Superman and Buzz Lightyear, the computer generated character from the animated film Toy Story.

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ITN | September 26, 2008