It's been years since we first heard talk of a new era of human flight about to launch, one where man could become airborne without a traditional aircraft but using instead a contraption that drew comparisons to Iron Man's flying suit. We're no closer today to that than we were back then, but at least we're in for a spectacle.
That real-life Iron Man flying suit is the jet suit from Gravity Industries, developed, piloted, and promoted by founder Richard Browning. First introduced in 2017, the jet suit has seen various iterations and possible applications demoed (mostly for the military) but is still a long way from going mainstream. Current legislation and prohibitive pricing are mainly responsible for that.
But count on Gravity to find new ways to push for the launch of this promised new era of human flight. The British company has partnered with the government of Dubai to announce the world's first jet suit race series, which Browning promises will be more exciting than any Formula One race.
The Dubai Jet Suit Race, which Gravity calls the Gravity Race Series, will take place in Dubai on February 28, 2024, and will be one of the main attractions of the upcoming edition of the Dubai Boat Show. The race will take place in the area between Dubai Harbor and Skydive Dubai, and it will include eight contestants, one of whom will be a racer from the UAE now receiving special training with Gravity, back home in the UK.
Photo: Tom Jackson Photography/Gravity Industries
The launch of the race series was announced in a public event that included, among some humble bragging from local public figures, a three-person demo flight over the Dubai Fountain next to Burj Park. Since this is the first jet suit racing series in the world, the occasion demanded something better than a simple press conference.
Gravity promises that this race series will be more thrilling than their usual flight demos, and not just because there will be eight men in Iron Man flying suits. The predetermined race course will include "challenges for the competitors that require maneuverability, accuracy and flight speed," so the three finalists who will eventually take the podium will have to earn their spots there.
Each of the jet suits used in the race will be specially adapted for the event, with modifications made for buoyancy and safety elements to prevent drowning in case any of the contestants ends up in the water.
Gravity's suit is powered by a single jet turbine developing 1,050 hp, integrated into the fuel tank backpack, with four additional turbines on the pilot's arms for steering. The suit weighs 27 kg (60 lbs). Gravity is selling a unit for prices starting at $480,000 and offers tethered flights at its training facility for $3,500.
Watching the race online will be the cheapest alternative to getting to experience a flight in a Gravity jet suit.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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