Ever dreamed of being a superhero, soaring and flying through the sky at supersonic speeds? Sounds unbelievable, but a British company named Gravity Industries has managed to turn that fantasy into a reality. How? By developing a jet suit that combines maneuverability and raw horsepower for maximum flight performance!
The Daedalus Flight Pack jet suit defies gravity—here’s how
Established in 2019, Gravity Industries has quickly become a leading pioneer in the sphere of personal flight technology. To bring to life the vision of founder and inventor Richard Browning, they created the Daedalus Flight Pack jet suit, which enables users to achieve powered flight.
To make this magic happen, the 60-pound suit is equipped with five small gas turbine jet engines: there are two on each arm and a slightly bigger one located on the back. Fueled by Jet A1 kerosene or diesel, the turbines run at 120,000 rpm. In turn, it is able to generate 1,050 horsepower and 318 lb of thrust, allowing users to reach speeds in excess of nearly 40 mph.
Movement control comes from thrusters mounted on the arms, allowing flight control at high altitudes via body movement. As a result, you are able to fly and hover through the air in any direction simply by adjusting your arms, leaning, and shifting your weight. Flight times generally last around eight minutes—a short time period, but enough to make you feel like you’ve overcome gravity itself.
Jet suits aren’t only for pros: Gravity Industries offers test flights for everyone
If you wish to experience firsthand the exhilaration and freedom of flight, Gravity Industries currently offers two daily group test flights at its facility in Goodwood Estate, which is located 90 minutes outside of London.
Upon arrival, the team will help you familiarize yourself with the jet suit and equipment. You will be shown a flight demo by one of their pilots and receive three powered runs on their tethered flight training rig.
The cost per person is £2,200 (over $2,800), including tax. For safety purposes, only participants over the age of 18 can partake in the experience. The current weight limit on the website goes up to 265 lbs, although participants are encouraged to regularly check in for changes or updates related to this policy.
Is the cost of human flight worth it?
If you wish to purchase your own fully functional Daedalus Flight Pack jet suit and live out your superhero fantasies in style, then you’re in luck. You can commission Gravity Industries to create a custom suit that fits your specifications.
However, the price tag is enough to bring anyone back down to Earth with a hard thump: prices start from an eye-watering $493,000. Otherwise, if you want to cut out the middleman and also save yourself $46 000, London department store Selfridges is selling the suit for only $447,000.
While the suit comes with a helmet and protective gear to mitigate the risks, it does not include a parachute to assist with emergency landings. What’s more, the jet suit currently doesn’t fall into any existing aviation categories, so there is uncertainty surrounding permits for ownership and usage. You will need to make sure that you are in compliance with your state’s aviation regulations and safety laws before considering taking flight.
As you can see, Gravity Industries has taken significant strides in taking dreams of human flight and turning it into a reality. Although there are matters of affordability, safety, and legality to consider, the potential of the jet suit is truly phenomenal. It really gives meaning to the phrase, “The sky’s the limit.”