Channel flight, the hard way

Yves Rossy is hoping to become the first person in history to fly the English Channel using his special wing. Tracing the same route as French aviator Louis Bleriot who was the first to fly the Channel 99 years ago, Rossy will leap from an airborne plane and fire up his jet-propelled wing.

Rico says another thing he'll let the other guy do... But, according to the column by James Randerson in the Guardian, Rossy made it: "

After two previous attempts were postponed because of bad weather everything went to plan for Rossy's 9 minute and 32 second flight. He was helped on his way by a tailwind that cut his flight time by around two and a half minutes compared with his calculations before the attempt.
The 49-year-old former fighter pilot, who now flies for Swiss International airlines, was taken to a height of 2,500 metres by a Pilatus support plane which, once he jumped out, guided him on his route. There was also a search and rescue helicopter on hand in case he landed in the sea, and another helicopter to film him in the air. Another plane flew above him to relay the pictures.