What is Fusion Man?
Fusion Man is the nickname of Yves Rossy, a Swiss pilot, inventor, aviation enthusiast, and former fighter pilot for the Swiss Air Force. Fusion Man became famous in 19 December 2006 when he became the first person to build and fly a jet-engine powered wing. Built by himself with help from sponsors such as Swiss watch company Hublot, the craft took $190,000 US Dollars (USD) and several years to build. Fusion Man’s first flight took place in Bex, Switzerland, and lasted six minutes. His wings were carbon-fiber and had a wingspan of a about 8 ft (2.4 m). The device was powered by four small kerosene-burning Jet-Cat jet engines, which are normally meant for model jet planes. To protect himself from the temperature of the jet engines, Rossy wore a heat-resistant suit similar to those worn by firefighters and race car drivers. After his 2006 flight, Rossy claimed to be “the first person to gain altitude and maintain a stable horizontal flight thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings.” Je
