He Did It! Jetman Crosses Channel
Swiss man crosses English Channel on jet wing.
DOVER, England, Sept 26, 2008 — -- A Swiss adventurer using a jet-propelled wing has flown across the English Channel from France in less than 10 minutes.
Yves Rossy landed safely in a field near Dover on Friday. He leapt from a plane at an altitude of more than 8,800 feet, fired up his jets and made the 22-mile trip from Calais, France, to Dover, England.
He began the Friday flight just before 1207 GMT (8:07 a.m. EDT); by 12:15 GMT (8:15 a.m. EDT), Rossy was above British soil and looped over onlookers before opening his parachute, with his wings still strapped to his back.
Rossy touched down in a field near the white cliffs of Dover.