From futuristic architecture to pioneering infrastructure, Dubai is no stranger to weird, wonderful, and downright wacky innovation. But on Wednesday, the “City of Superlatives” went full sci-fi when eight pilots, suited and booted like Marvel’s “Iron Man,” took to the skies.
They were not fighting supervillains or alien warlords, though. Against a backdrop of skyscrapers and super yachts, the airborne athletes competed in the inaugural Jet Suit Race Series, an event organized by the Dubai Sports Council and Gravity Industries, the manufacturers of the jet suit.
“Unlike most racing, you’re racing in three dimensions,” says Richard Browning, chief test pilot for UK-based Gravity Industries, which he founded in 2017. “There’s pilots above and below, and all over the place, so it’s a really interesting experience.”
The eight pilots raced around a one-kilometer (0.6-mile) course, maneuvering between 12 giant inflatable obstacles placed in the water. Four heats created a leaderboard that culminated in a final round, with each race only lasting around 90 seconds.
“We had people getting disqualified, we had people losing it, we had somebody go in the water — we had just utter chaos, in a great way,” says Browning.
He hopes that the event will inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to dream big: “Most technology is ludicrous and impossible until it isn’t.”
‘The power of a Bugatti’ in a backpack
Gravity’s technology combines five engines — a large one on the back, with a pair of “micro jet engines” on each arm — in a 3D-printed polymer, aluminum, and titanium suit that can lift a person into the air. Browning compares the 1,700-horsepower jet suit to “the power of a Bugatti Veyron” sports car in a 30-kilogram (66-pound) backpack.
Pilots control their flight path by altering the direction of their arms — for example, pointing their arms down to go up, or lifting their arms to the side to go down. The jet suit uses aviation fuel or diesel, and can go at speeds of up to 136 kilometers per hour (85 miles per hour), Browning’s own record.
As with any adrenaline sport, there’s always risk. Gravity likens jet suit crashes to “falling off a motorcycle,” and flies low to the ground over water or grass to minimize risks.
“By doing what we do over water, if you mess it up, you just fall in the water — it actually adds some drama. It’s a little bit expensive to repair, but everybody’s fine,” says Browning.
Issa Kalfon, Gravity’s deputy head of flight training and former professional gymnast, took first place at the showcase, followed by fellow British pilots Paul Jones and Freddie Hay.
While Kaflon has flown in over 30 Gravity events and demonstrations, not all of the pilots were so experienced.
(Currently, jet suits are not recognized in any aviation categories, so they do not require any permissions — however, Browning adds that they work closely with aviation regulatory bodies, like the CAA in the UK and FAA in the US to ensure they respect existing rules and safety measures. In 2020, there was a fatal jetpack accident in Dubai, though it was not a Gravity suit.)
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/01/middleeast/dubai-gravity-jet-suit-race-spc-intl/index.html