The pilot, Yves Rossy, who received the nickname Fusion Man, decided to make his first appearence after five years of training and preparations. The event took place in Bex, Switzerland.

The 48-year-old former fighter pilot and extreme sports enthusiastfired four jet turbines and reached the speed of 186 miles per hour.
After pleasing the crowd with his flight and figure eights, Rossy reached an airfield near the eastern shore of Lake Geneva and talked about his flight saying that it was absolutely excellent. 

The flight lasted only five minutes but the pilot’s next challange will more than make up for it: he plans to cross the English Channel later this year, as he considers that he still is quite far from using the device’s full potential.

Another plan regards a visit and a test drive through the Grand Canyon.

The safety measures were one of the builder’s biggest concerns. The heat from the turbines was avoided by using a heat-resistant suit, also used by firefighters and race car drivers. For any kind of unexpected incidents, a safety parachute unfolds at the touch of a yellow handle.

So far Yves Rossy and his sponsors have spent more than $285,000 and many hours of labour planning and building the jet-powered wing. Considering the costs involved in the process, the device is not expected to be released on the market any time soon.