Rossy performs aerial loops with jet wings
In a world first, Swiss adventurer Yves Rossy has jumped from a hot-air balloon and completed two aerial loops using just his custom-made jet-propelled wing suit.
It was just the latest daredevil stunt by the former fighter pilot who hopes one day to fly through the Grand Canyon.
Rossy, 51, launched himself from a replica of the Breitling Orbiter – the first balloon to be piloted nonstop around the world in 1999 – at an altitude of 2,400 metres near Lake Geneva. He then fired up the jets on his new smaller and sleeker wing suit to perform the loops before landing safely with a parachute.
Rossy declared himself “very happy and satisfied” with Friday’s stunt, which comes two years after his first successful flights over the nearby Swiss Alps.
The extreme sports enthusiast has since flown across the English Channel and last year tried to cross the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco to Spain. That attempt ended in failure when Rossy ditched in the sea due to strong turbulence.
Rossy said he is still hoping to fly through the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but is waiting for permission from US authorities.
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.