Skydiver Vince Reffet Joins Jetman Dubai After Five Years Of Training

A second Jetman has made his debut.  Vince Reffet, a well-known skydiver, has become only the second person to fly using a jet-engine powered carbon fiber wing strapped to his back.

Reffet was introduced by Yves ‘Jetman’ Rossy in an event that included XDubai Managing Director, Ismaeil Al Hashmi at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The adventurous duo also announced the completion of another first – a twin human formation flight – a historic moment for Jetman Dubai and for aviation globally.
 
Speaking from the 112th floor of the Burj Khalifa, overlooking Dubai’s skyline, Ismaeil Al Hashmi, Managing Director of XDubai said, “At XDubai, our ambassadors are constantly redefining their limits and setting the bar higher for action sports in Dubai and I would like to congratulate Yves Rossy and Vince Reffet for their new record. Jetman Dubai does not only put these two inspiring individuals on the international aviation map, but also begins a new phase for the emirate of Dubai as it becomes home to two world-class action sport athletes.
 
“Jetman Dubai wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Skydive Dubai and I would like to thank them for their commitment to this project,” he said.

Making the city their new home, Yves Rossy and Vince Reffet have charted out a plan to expand their dreams for Jetman Dubai.
 
“We are delighted that another aviation milestone is being flagged off from Burj Khalifa, defined by the spirit of adventure," said Ahmad Al Falasi, Executive Director – Group Operations of Emaar Properties PJSC. "XDubai’s path-breaking initiatives are an inspiration for those who seek to challenge themselves and push back the boundaries of what is possible. This has been the essence of Burj Khalifa, a towering achievement on mankind’s ability, which today serves as an inspiration for people around the world.”

The Jetman Dubai pair’s record setting twin human formation saw them fly together over landmarks like the iconic Burj Khalifa, The Palm Jumeirah and the Liwa desert.  With the support of XDubai, Yves’ and Vince’s flights over Dubai will help them further develop the Jetman wing and implement technological changes to advance their dream for human flight.  Jetman Dubai has already started development of its next generation wing. Jetman Dubai will also be provided with exclusive access to facilities at Skydive Dubai, including demarcated fly zones at Skydive Dubai The Palm Dropzone and the Desert Dropzone.
 
“Establishing our headquarters in Dubai gives us access to world-class facilities including Skydive Dubai which will enable us to take Jetman Dubai and the development of our new wing to its next stage,” said Yves ‘Jetman’ Rossy.  “Jetman is the culmination of over 20 years of innovation and has resulted in achieving my personal dream to fly free, soaring through the sky. This move to Dubai has opened the doors to the next chapter of Jetman Dubai and with the support of Xdubai, Skydive Dubai, and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, I look forward to sharing my knowledge with Vince Reffet. It is a privilege to have a talented athlete like Vince fly besides me high in the sky and I believe that together we will make great advances as we move towards our next big milestone.”

The addition of Vince Reffet marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter. “The sky is boundless and provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience creative human formations, which in turn create an extraordinary feeling. After more than five years of training, I am honoured to join Yves Rossy and XDubai. As Jetman Dubai moves into a new phase, I’m extremely excited about what the future holds for us,” Reffet said.
 
Over the past decade, the Jetman journey has seen the development of more than 15 prototypes of the Jetman wing. In December 2014, Yves Rossy also participated in an extraordinary formation flight over Dubai’s desert with Hungarian aerobatic champion Zoltan Veres.

(Images from Jetman YouTube video)

FMIL www.jetman.com