A Swiss adventurer known as the "Jetman" made his first U.S. appearance this week.
The Swiss pilot, Yves Rossy, became the first man in aviation history to fly with a jet-propelled wing in 2006. The "Jetman" will appear from July 29 to Aug. 4 at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wis. From Sept. 11 to 15, he is also scheduled to be at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev.
For one week each summer, EAA members and aviation enthusiasts topping more than 500,000 from more than 60 countries attend the AirVenture venue in Wisconsin, according the organization.
Rossy's jet-propelled wing, called the jetwing, consists of a small wing with four jet engines, allowing the military trained pilot to fly through the air at more than 150 mph. He uses a hand-held throttle to control the engines, but uses his body to maneuver the machine, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rossy usually launches from a helicopter and uses a parachute to land.
The "Jetman" has made successful flights over the English Channel, Swiss Alps and Rio de Janeiro since perfecting his flying machine in 2008, according to his website.
Rossy's jetwing machine won't be the only machine of its kind at the Oshkosh air show. A prototype flying car called the Terrafugia Transition will make its first airshow appearance at the Oshkosh venue, according to The Wall Street Journal.