“Rocketman” succeeds in his cross-channel attempt

In true “Boys Own” tradition a former Navy pilot has crossed the English channel strapped to a rocket-propelled jet pack.

Yves Rossy made it the 35 kilometres between France and England on his second attempt, after bad weather grounded him yesterday.

The Swiss pilot designed the two-metre wide carbon wing, with four engines, himself. He has to steer it with his head and back.

The entire journey took him less than ten minutes.

He landed with his wing, and no doubt with a prayer, in a field next to Dover’s white cliffs, and promptly stepped into the record books.

There have been many other crossings of the English channel, one by amphibious sports car, even one in a pedal-driven aircraft, but never before by a jet-propelled wing.

On Monday “RocketMan” will be back at work, flying commercial airliners for Swiss Air.

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