Famed for its towering skyscrapers, Dubai debuted its inaugural jet suit race, with racers navigating a course against the backdrop of Dubai Marina's skyline.
(Photo: Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images) DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 09: A general view of Burj Khalifa on November 9, 2016, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Hosting First Inaugural Jet Race
Pilots gathered on a Dubai runway, igniting seven jet engines with a thunderous roar. But these weren't traditional aircraft preparations; the pilots themselves were the machines in question.
Dubai ventured into new territory by hosting its inaugural jet suit race. Against the backdrop of Dubai Marina's towering skyscrapers, participants raced through a designated course, maneuvering with jet engines strapped to their hands and backs.
Drawing comparisons to Iron Man, the iconic Marvel character portrayed by actor Robert Downey Jr., the pilots emphasized the striking resemblance between their jet suits and the fictional hero's technology.
During the races on Wednesday, pilots donned 1,500-horsepower jet suits, boasting greater power than many high-performance sports cars and utilizing the same type of fuel employed by Dubai-based airline Emirates' Airbus A380s and Boeing 777 aircraft.
Pilots leaped forward, engines blazing, and soared like helicopters around obstacles in a water channel near the venue. Issa Kalfon won the race and admitted feeling nervous beforehand but praised the jet suit for its safety and ease of use.
Inspired by Marvel, DC Comics
Associated Press reported that Richard Browning, founder and chief test pilot of Gravity Industries, likened the experience to fulfilling the age-old dream of flying and following wherever the imagination leads.
He noted the parallels with the fantastical worlds depicted in Marvel and DC Comics, where CGI brings such dreams to life, and highlighted Gravity Industries' efforts to make that dream a reality.
Gravity Industries gained global attention when it outfitted a U.K. Royal Marine with one of its jet suits, enabling him to land on a ship at sea several years ago.
Since then, the company has extensively showcased its suits worldwide and explored various military applications before conceptualizing a competition in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council.
The pilots assembled on a runway utilized by Skydive Dubai at the Dubai Marina, a location often frequented by thrill-seekers and associated with the Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, with some parachutists descending from the sky as the jet pack preparations unfolded.
Dubai has emerged as an adventure hub in recent years. XDubai, linked with Sheikh Hamdan, offers thrilling experiences like zip lining over Dubai Marina and downtown areas near the iconic Burj Khalifa, the tallest building globally.
Yet, with these adventures come inherent risks. In 2020, Vincent Reffet, a renowned "Jetman" associated with a different project in Dubai, tragically passed away in a training accident. Reffet had gained fame for his daring feats, including flying alongside an Emirates A380 double-decker aircraft.
