Iron Man-Inspired Pilots Engage In Jet Suit Race Amid Dubai's Iconic Skyscrapers: Pics Inside

Did you recently hear about an adrenaline-packed jet suit race in Dubai? Picture this: pilots not in planes but as the aircraft themselves! Yep, you heard it right. In a jaw-dropping spectacle, these daredevils strapped on jet engines to their hands and backs for the city's first-ever jet suit race. And guess what? It's straight out of a comic book ¨C think Iron Man zooming through the skyline.

AP

Dubai's first-ever jet suit race

On Wednesday, the city-state in United Arab Emirates hosted its first-ever jet suit race, with pilots lining up on a runway and utilising seven jet engines to soar through the city's skyline.

AP

Against the backdrop of Dubai Marina's towering skyscrapers, racers controlled the jet engines strapped to their hands and backs, creating an electrifying spectacle in the city known for its architectural marvels.

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¡ª Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 28, 2024

¡°The closest analogy would be that dream of flying ... and then go wherever your mind is taking you,¡± said Richard Browning, the founder and chief test pilot for Gravity Industries, the firm that organized the race with Dubai.

"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.¡±

Reuters

Gravity became well-known worldwide when they put a jet suit on a British Royal Marine, who landed on a ship at sea a few years ago. After that, they travelled around the world with the suits and looked into other ways they could be used in the military. Then they came up with the idea of a competition with the Dubai Sports Council.

Gravity's jet suits: power beyond luxury cars

On Wednesday, there were races featuring pilots who wore jet suits with 1,500-horsepower. These jet suits are more powerful than most luxury sports cars and they use the same fuel as the long-haul airplanes of Dubai-based carrier Emirates, such as the Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.

Reuters

The pilots lined up on a runway at the Dubai Marina used by Skydive Dubai while parachutists descended as they prepared their jet packs.

Then came what pilot Issa Kalfon referred to as ¡°the moment of truth.¡± The pilots revved their engines and leaned forward as they sped around obstacles in a water channel.

It was reminiscent of a helicopter taking off, with the pilots ascending as they gained speed. The organisers had chosen the water site for safety reasons, as it allowed the pilots to fly at higher speeds while skimming just above the water's surface.

Gravity claims the jet suit can go as fast as 80 mph (128 kph). During the heats, the pilots went even faster. Two of them accidentally bumped into each other but managed to stay in the air, impressing the crowd watching.

AP

¡°It's pretty amazing to see that they can do this in Dubai and they have these guys flying over the water,¡± said Jennifer Ross, 50, a U.S. citizen from Houston who now resides in Dubai. ¡°It's kind of like astronauts flying around in space.¡±

Dubai, known for its stunning coastline and bustling markets, has a passion for flying, demonstrated by its status as home to the world's busiest international airport and its pioneering work in developing flying taxis over the years.

AP

Dubai has become a hub for adventure activities. XDubai, which is associated with Sheikh Hamdan, operates zip line attractions across Dubai Marina and downtown by the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

High-flying risks: the world of jet suit pilots

However, there are risks. In 2020, Vincent Reffet, one of Dubai's original "Jetmen," died in a training crash after previously flying alongside an Emirates double-decker.

Kalfon, who eventually won the race and raised the golden jet turbine, acknowledged feeling nervous before takeoff, but described the jet suit as safe and easy to handle.

Issa Kalfon| Image by Reuters

¡°Everything¡¯s hot, it¡¯s running, the engines are screaming at you," Kalfon said. "And the flag drops, and it¡¯s just ¡ª you absolutely go for it.¡±

During Wednesday's race, a pilot from the United Arab Emirates named Ahmed al-Shehhi crashed into the water. He went in feet first but came back up quickly and gave a thumbs-up to the rescuers.

Reuters

An announcer mentioned that he only had 12 training days before the race. Afterwards, technicians carried his unit off a boat, and the smell of jet fuel could be detected.

Meanwhile, onlookers were amazed by the jet suits, with many wanting to try them out.

Lexica

¡°You can see the best show you can ever see in Dubai because people are flying ¡ª 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.¡±

(With inputs from AP)

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