Thrill-seeking pilots wearing jet packs make superhero dreams a reality with first-ever jet suit race: ‘It’s Iron Man tech’
These thrill-seeking jet-setters are contenders for the next Tony Stark, with a zooming display reminiscent of Marvel’s “Iron Man.”
Seven pilots wearing colorful bodysuits, helmets and a massive jet pack zoomed down a runway in Dubai Wednesday as part of what it is calling the first-ever jet suit race.
“The closest analogy would be that dream of flying … and then go wherever your mind is taking you,” Richard Browning, the founder and chief test pilot for Gravity Industries, told the Associated Press.
“And yes, the world of Marvel superheroes and DC Comics, they have created that dream book with CGI, and we’ve got the closest I think anybody’s ever got to delivering that for real.”
Browning even joined in on the historic race, donning a bright yellow version of the 1,500-horsepower jet suits that utilizes the same kind of fuel used by Dubai-based long-haul carrier Emirates’ Airbus A380s and Boeing 777 aircraft.
Each superhero-esque jet can reach speeds of 80 mph, according to Gravity Industries.
The pilots Wednesday didn’t quite reach those neck-breaking speeds as they zipped down the runway used at the Dubai Marina by Skydive Dubai, however.
The racers weaved around obstacles in a water channel near the site, which organizers chose for safety purposes.
Though there was some bumping between racers, only one person smashed into their water during his race, but immediately popped back up to give a thumbs up to rescuers. According to announcers, the Emirati pilot only had 12 days of training.
Pilot Issa Kalfonof the United Kingdom ultimately soared to victory and was awarded a golden jet turbine at the finish line.
Although he described the jet suit as safe and easy to handle, Kalfon admitted he was nervous before taking lift-off.
“Everything’s hot, it’s running, the engines are screaming at you,” Kalfon said.
“And the flag drops, and it’s just — you absolutely go for it.”
The race, put on by Gravity Industries in conjunction with Dubai, is just the first in a “Race Series” that the innovative firm plans to oversee.
Gravity Industries previously drew worldwide attention in 2022 when it equipped a Royal Marines member with one of its jet suits to board a flagship aircraft carrier after flying over the New York Harbor.
The military branch has since widely used the suits to pursue other military applications before Gravity Industries came up with the idea of a competition with the Dubai Sports Council.
“You can see the best show you can ever see in Dubai because people are flying — they are flying in the sky,” said Pratik Vyas, 35, of Gujarat, India, who works in an import-export business.
“It’s a next-level tech. It’s really, really nice because if you’re a big fan of Iron Man, you know, Tony Stark, it’s Iron Man tech.”
