Real manual flying. Amazing 'interception'
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not reckless
I suppose they were mindful of the terrible consequences that an encounter with wake vortices would bring.
Interesting, amazing, daring, even skilled, and I think unnecessarily reckless.
Interesting, amazing, daring, even skilled, and I think unnecessarily reckless.
Potentially dangerous (like driving a car), yes, but reckless, no.
The 380 has a huge wing and can fly slow, especially without cargo and most fuel, and careful planning ensured the jetpack pilots stayed out its zone of influence.
Many skeptical professional minds had to be sure of success before the flight was permitted.
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I'm interested to know why exactly you think that getting into the vortex would be such a big deal?
1. They would be flipped unceremoniously. So what? They either recover like a dart or they pull their parachute. It ain't going to damage them. Being flipped is more serious the bigger you are, not the smaller.
2. The big vortices come off the outside edge of the flap, not the wingtip, and they do so at landing speeds at high weight, not ~200kts
1. They would be flipped unceremoniously. So what? They either recover like a dart or they pull their parachute. It ain't going to damage them. Being flipped is more serious the bigger you are, not the smaller.
2. The big vortices come off the outside edge of the flap, not the wingtip, and they do so at landing speeds at high weight, not ~200kts
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A short poll.
I have hung up my headset so will never fly the exotic A380; but possibly as a pax in the future. For those who might, or already do, I hope you enjoy it. But looking at this video of a lumbering White Whale, graceful though it might be, escorted by a small pod of dolphins as they formate and fly amongst the spume of clouds, I wonder who would rather be where.
I vote for the dolphins.
I have hung up my headset so will never fly the exotic A380; but possibly as a pax in the future. For those who might, or already do, I hope you enjoy it. But looking at this video of a lumbering White Whale, graceful though it might be, escorted by a small pod of dolphins as they formate and fly amongst the spume of clouds, I wonder who would rather be where.
I vote for the dolphins.
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This could be interesting 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpu2Z80Jzac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpu2Z80Jzac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpu2Z80Jzac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpu2Z80Jzac
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Which bit?
The fact that the biggest vortices come off the outside edge of the flap, or that they are biggest when slow and heavy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfY5ZQDzC5s
Watch this video for the landing aircraft with flaps deployed, and tell me where you think the vortices are....
The fact that the biggest vortices come off the outside edge of the flap, or that they are biggest when slow and heavy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfY5ZQDzC5s
Watch this video for the landing aircraft with flaps deployed, and tell me where you think the vortices are....
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I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to imagine a scenario where a chain of events results in something catastrophic.
How directionally stable are these jetpacks when one of the motors cuts out?
How often do we hear of parachutists crashing into each other rendering someone unconscious (or killed)?
If one flyer did somehow get caught in a vortex would it be violent enough to render him unconscious?
It might inspire folks to take up aviation (or inspire people to do stupid things with much less preparation).
Isn't that sufficient reason?
Anyway, I won't be flying with Emirates if they think this is 100% safe.
How directionally stable are these jetpacks when one of the motors cuts out?
How often do we hear of parachutists crashing into each other rendering someone unconscious (or killed)?
If one flyer did somehow get caught in a vortex would it be violent enough to render him unconscious?
It might inspire folks to take up aviation (or inspire people to do stupid things with much less preparation).
The benefit to the guys flying the 'wing' is the fantastic thrill of what they are doing against the zero risk to anyone else but themselves.
Anyway, I won't be flying with Emirates if they think this is 100% safe.
This was 100% safe, nobody was injured/killed. The planning was professional and managed the risks to ensure a successful outcome. I think it shows that Emirates are a very professional outfit.
Flying itself is not 100% safe, so I guess NSEU won't be going flying again.
Flying itself is not 100% safe, so I guess NSEU won't be going flying again.
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NSEU
I can accept that you think this could be dangerous for the jet pack guys, and would agree that the entire endeavour carries more risk than not doing it, but surely that is up to them?
Do you think that there is a risk to the A380?
You are aware that this was not a passenger flight, yes?
I can accept that you think this could be dangerous for the jet pack guys, and would agree that the entire endeavour carries more risk than not doing it, but surely that is up to them?
Do you think that there is a risk to the A380?
You are aware that this was not a passenger flight, yes?
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Tourist,
Re vortices: They are, of course, a consequence of Angle of Attack.
If flaps are deployed, then that part of the wing will have a relatively greater AoA.
So yes, the flap vortices will be somewhat greater than those from the wingtips.
Either way, not a good idea to mess with either of them if you're in another aircraft or just wearing a Batman suit.
Re vortices: They are, of course, a consequence of Angle of Attack.
If flaps are deployed, then that part of the wing will have a relatively greater AoA.
So yes, the flap vortices will be somewhat greater than those from the wingtips.
Either way, not a good idea to mess with either of them if you're in another aircraft or just wearing a Batman suit.
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I'm quite sure they felt their way in gently, and you can feel the effect of the vortices even in an aircraft as you start to enter them let alone in a tiny jetpack.
These guys are not idiots or suicidal.
Do them the courtesy of not assuming that they have not thought this through.
Avoid imitations
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When it comes to aviation, there are always self proclaimed experts who do nothing but talk about it.
The real experts don't talk about it, but simply think it through then go out and do it.
Thank goodness for the latter!
The real experts don't talk about it, but simply think it through then go out and do it.
Thank goodness for the latter!
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Rossy flew Mirage, Tigers, and Hunters, 747...not sure what he currently flies for Swiss, but he is definitely a qualified, professional pilot, well aware of risks and more than familiar with meticulous planning.
His first flight tests of his carbon fiber wings and RC-model jet engines were probably - from a conservative viewpoint - a bigger risk than what he is doing now, after continuously improving his setup, and with more experience using it.
I agree that wake/wingtip vortices may not be such a huge danger for a human-sized flying object equipped with a parachute. This formation flight was probably safer, better planned, and better executed than many other flights worldwide. Amazing to watch
Regarding manual flight and Mk 1 eyeball: according to himself, he controls his "flight control surfaces" (i.e. his body) with his eyes. He looks in the direction of where he wants to fly, and his body moves accordingly, a very intuitive process. Flying by the seat of one's pants.
His first flight tests of his carbon fiber wings and RC-model jet engines were probably - from a conservative viewpoint - a bigger risk than what he is doing now, after continuously improving his setup, and with more experience using it.
I agree that wake/wingtip vortices may not be such a huge danger for a human-sized flying object equipped with a parachute. This formation flight was probably safer, better planned, and better executed than many other flights worldwide. Amazing to watch
Regarding manual flight and Mk 1 eyeball: according to himself, he controls his "flight control surfaces" (i.e. his body) with his eyes. He looks in the direction of where he wants to fly, and his body moves accordingly, a very intuitive process. Flying by the seat of one's pants.
Last edited by deptrai; 7th Nov 2015 at 14:15.