In a mesmerizing spectacle at the end of February, Dubai, the crown jewel of the United Arab Emirates, played host to a unique competition that took adrenaline to new heights: jetpack racing, as reported by Mail.ru.
Seasoned pilots, meticulously prepared for the event, soared into the sky strapped to Gravity jetpacks, courtesy of the American company Gravity Industries. These cutting-edge jetpacks boast 1500-horsepower engines and can achieve speeds of up to 128 km/h.
Fueled with the same aviation-grade fuel as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft of Emirates Airlines, the jetpacks promised a thrilling race above the Dubai waters near the Skydive Dubai parachute center. The decision to conduct the race over water proved prudent, as at least one participant experienced a high-speed plunge into the aquatic expanse.
Despite the daring nature of the competition, pilot Issa Kalfon emerged victorious. Kalfon, who admitted to pre-race jitters, praised the safety features and user-friendly design of the jet suit. Controlled by a turbine on the backpack and four hand-mounted turbines, the jet suit showcased both innovation and accessibility.
This groundbreaking championship marked the world’s first sports competition where participants took to the air unaided by traditional aircraft, ushering in a new era of gravity-defying sports entertainment.