'Channel crossing is mythical'

SWISS adventurer Yves Rossy earned the nickname Fusion Man for becoming the first person to fly across the Channel propelled by a jetpack strapped to his back in September 2008. He tells the Connexion about his adventure ahead of the 100th anniversary of the first cross-Channel flight.

What pushed you towards crossing the Channel?

I chose the English Channel because of its historical aspects. While thinking about a documentary, we discussed finding a location that could be beautiful and significant. The journey from Calais to Dover is mythical and full of history - many people have crossed the Channel. The French aviator Louis Blériot was the first to fly over the Channel in 1909, and many others followed. Also it was a big challenge for me, because before that event I had never flown 35 km.

Who are your aviation heros?

I have a lot of respect for all the pioneers in aviation. I share my dream to fly like a bird with pioneers as Léo Valentin and Clem Sohn [who both flew with self-made wings jumping from aircraft and both died as a result] and many others. When you pilot a plane, you don’t realize at what speed you are flying. With my wing, I came back to the first idea of the pioneers, to fly like a bird, with nothing around you.

Where did the Fusion man idea come from?

I love flying: I became a fighter pilot, I work as a captain for Swiss International Airlines, and I tried lots of sport as the skysurf for example. I had the idea to build a wing when I discovered the skysurf. I tried the skysurf, enjoyed it, but I wanted to keep the same feeling, but with a real flight instead of falling.
I steer myself in the air thanks to the movement of my body, I have no instruments. If I want to go right, I move my shoulders to the right, etc: I can therefore turn left and right, but also go up and down. It's awesome.

How many ‘mishaps’ did you have before you knew it could fly?

I had a lot of incidents. I had to drop my wing many times! But I never had a real accident for the moment. In case of problem, I have always a plan B: I can drop my wing and become a normal parachutist. That’s why I never fly under 800 meters, in order to have enough time to drop my wing (which has a parachute) and open my own parachute. Also if I am not self confident, I don’t fly - but every incident allows me to optimize the wing.

As a child did you want to be a pilot / fusion man or something else?

Flying is a passion. I have always wanted to fly since I was a child. My job is to fly a normal plane, and I devote all of my spare time to flying in its purest sense, without the cabin of plane around me, but only with a wing.

Your next plan in the Grand Canyon – what other challenges lie ahead?

I keep on optimizing my wing, in order to make it lighter, easier to handle and more powerful. My new prototype should be ready at the end of the year. I want to be able to do acrobatics, and also take off from the ground. Lots of new challenges!

Photo:Credit Fusion Man