'Exactly like Iron Man': Dubai hosts first-ever jet suit race for pilots
In Dubai, pilots gathered on a runway, igniting their seven jet engines with a deafening roar, not to board an aircraft but to become the aircraft themselves.
This city-state, famed for its architectural marvels, played host to its inaugural jet suit race. Against the backdrop of Dubai Marina's soaring skyscrapers, competitors navigated a course, manipulating jet engines strapped to their hands and backs.
Comparisons to Iron Man, the iconic Marvel character portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., were inevitable, and the pilots embraced the likeness. "It is exactly like that," they affirmed.
“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 put on 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.”
Gravity garnered global attention when it outfitted a U.K. Royal Marine with a jet suit, culminating in a dramatic sea landing years ago. Since then, they've explored various military applications before conceiving the idea of a race in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council.
Equipped with 1,500-horsepower jet suits, more potent than many luxury sports cars, the pilots revved up on the same fuel used by Dubai's long-haul carrier, Emirates. As they lined up on the Dubai Marina's runway, accustomed to thrill-seekers from Skydive Dubai, parachutists descended in tandem.
For pilot Issa Kalfon, it was "the moment of truth." Engines roaring, pilots leaped forward, ascending akin to helicopters, maneuvering through obstacles in a water channel. Organizers selected the water site for enhanced speed and safety.
The jet suits currently boast speeds of 80 mph (128 kph), according to Gravity. During the heats, pilots accelerated, occasionally colliding mid-air, captivating spectators like Jennifer Ross, a U.S. citizen residing in Dubai, who likened the spectacle to astronauts in space.
Dubai's fascination with flight, evident in its bustling airport, extends to ambitious projects like flying taxis. It has also embraced adventure sports, exemplified by XDubai's zip line attractions.
However, such endeavors entail risks, as exemplified by Vincent Reffet's tragic crash in 2020. Kalfon, victorious in the race, attested to the nerves preceding flights but lauded the jet suit's safety and maneuverability.
Despite one crash during the event, Emirati pilot Ahmed al-Shehhi emerged unscathed, signaling his resilience with a thumbs-up. Onlookers marveled at the spectacle, expressing eagerness to experience it firsthand.
For Pratik Vyas, from Gujarat, India, the event embodied cutting-edge technology akin to Iron Man's gear, encapsulating the futuristic allure of Dubai's latest endeavor.
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