The jet suit is more powerful than many luxury sports cars.
Dubai hosted a remarkable event on Wednesday as pilots lined up on the runway for the city-state’s first-ever jet race. The competition, organized by Gravity Industries in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, saw competitors wearing jet engines on their hands and backs, like a scene from Iron Man.
Set against the impressive skyline of Dubai Marina’s towering skyscrapers, the futuristic display shows pilots nimbly maneuvering the powerful jet’s course. The competition was held on the Dubai Marina runway used by Skydiving Dubai, a company linked to Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and known for its thrilling experiences.
Gravity Industries founder and chief test pilot Richard Browning described the experience as fulfilling a dream of flying. “The closest analogy is the dream of flying … and going wherever you want to go,” he said. “Yeah, in the world of Marvel superheroes and DC Comics, they’ve created this dream book with CGI, and we’ve got the closest thing that I think anyone can actually achieve.”
#Dubai The world’s first jet suit competition is about to take place; a first-of-its-kind sporting competition in which opponents rely solely on suits equipped with jet engines to fly in the air. The event will be held on February 28, 2024, in the area between Dubai Harbor and Dubai Skydiving Centre. … pic.twitter.com/hDMZXaCHhK
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 27, 2024
The jets have an impressive 1,500 horsepower, more than many luxury sports cars, and run on the same aviation fuel used by Dubai-based Emirates Airline’s Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft.
Each jet resembles something out of a superhero comic, capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 mph (128 kph), however, during Wednesday’s race, the pilots didn’t quite hit those speeds. They navigated around obstacles in a waterway chosen for safety, and while there were some bumps among the racers, only one pilot ended up in the water. Surprisingly, the Emirati pilot, who had just received 12 days of training, quickly stood up and gave a thumbs up to the rescuers.
British pilot Issa Kalfon won the race, crossing the finish line and receiving the golden jet turbine. Although Calfond said the jet was safe and easy to manage, he admitted to feeling nervous before takeoff. “Everything is hot, everything is running, the engine is screaming at you. The flag comes down and that’s it – you absolutely have to go for it,” he shared.
Gravity Industries attracted international attention when it equipped a British Royal Marine with a jet suit and landed it on a ship at sea. The partnership with the Dubai Sports Council marks another major step by the company in exploring uses for jet suit technology beyond the military.
