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From futuristic architecture to groundbreaking infrastructure, Dubai is no stranger to weird, wonderful and downright crazy innovation. But on Wednesday, the "City of Superlatives" went full sci-fi as eight pilots dressed and outfitted as Marvel's "Iron Man" took to the skies.
However, they weren't fighting supervillains or alien warlords. Against a backdrop of skyscrapers and superyachts, the airborne athletes took part in the inaugural Jet Suit Race Series, an event organized by the Dubai Sports Council and Gravity Industries, the manufacturers of the jet suit.
"Unlike most races, you race in three dimensions," says Richard Browning, chief test pilot of British Gravity Industries, which he founded in 2017. "There are pilots above and below, and everywhere, so it's a really interesting experience."
The eight pilots raced over a one-kilometre course and maneuvered between twelve gigantic inflatable obstacles placed in the water. Four heats created a leaderboard that culminated in a final lap, with each race lasting only about 90 seconds.
"We had people get disqualified, we had people lose, we had someone go into the water - we just had total chaos, in a great way," Browning said.
He hopes the event will inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to dream big: "Most technology is ridiculous and impossible until it isn't."
'The power of a Bugatti' in a backpack
Gravity's technology combines five motors - a large one at the back, with a pair of 'microjet engines' on each arm - into a 3D-printed suit of polymer, aluminum and titanium that can lift a person into the air. Browning likens the 1,700-horsepower jet suit to "the power of a Bugatti Veyron" sports car in a 30-kilogram backpack.
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Pilots determine their flight path by changing the direction of their arms, for example by pointing their arms down to go up, or raising their arms to the side to go down. The jet suit uses jet fuel or diesel and can reach speeds of up to 136 kilometers per hour (85 miles per hour), Browning's own record.
As with any adrenaline sport, there is always a risk. Gravity likens jet suit crashes to 'falling off a motorcycle' and flies low to the ground over water or grass to minimize risks.
"By doing what we do with water, if you mess up you just fall into the water - it actually adds some drama. It's a little expensive to fix, but everyone is fine," Browning said.
Issa Kalfon, Gravity's deputy head of flight training and a former professional gymnast, took first place at the showcase, followed by fellow British pilots Paul Jones and Freddie Hay.
Although Kaflon has flown more than 30 Gravity events and demonstrations, not all pilots were so experienced.
(Currently, jet suits are not recognized in any aviation category, so they do not require approval - However, Browning adds that they work closely with aviation regulatory bodies, such as the CAA in the UK and the FAA in the US, to ensure they have the respect existing rules, rules and safety measures. In 2020, a fatal jetpack accident occurred in Dubai, although it was not a Gravity suit.)
Ahmed Al Shehhi, an adrenaline junkie and regular skydiver, represented the UAE in the race and was the only participant who was not a Gravity team pilot. Al Shehhi flew in the jetsuit for the first time just three weeks before the race, completing an intensive twelve-day training in Britain where competitors practiced on a safety tether system before heading to free flight.
"If you add up the full minutes he had with the engines running, it's probably 25 minutes," Browning said. "It's amazing how quickly you can get people used to this."
More than entertainment
The showcase is designed to show off what the technology can do - and that's because entertainment is just one aspect of the jetsuit's capabilities. Browning, a former Royal Marines reservist, is already working with sectors such as search and rescue, medical and military defense to implement the jetpack into their operations.
In 2020, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) tested Gravity Industries' jetsuits in the hilly terrain of Britain's Lake District, reducing a 25-minute walk to a 90-second flight. The company made headlines again in 2021, when the British Royal Navy and Royal Marines tested the jetsuits with Commando Royal Marines off the southern coast of Britain for three days, to help soldiers quickly board ships at sea, which is usually done by helicopter.
"(We train) special forces and medical responders to move over any terrain, day and night, over wire, mud, mines, water, in weather conditions that ground most helicopters, to cover every square meter of the planet achieve, get a job done and, most importantly, extract themselves," says Browning.
Other companies are also trying to rethink human mobility: California-based JetPack Aviation claims to have built the world's first jetpack, which has been used in television and films, and Indian startup Absolute Composites is exploring military applications with the country's military.
The showcase is just the beginning for the sport, says Browning: Gravity plans to hold a championship in Dubai next year, with at least 12 competitors, which Browning hopes will "capture the imagination" of people and cities across the all over the world about the possibilities of this technology.
"For many of our audiences, this is science fiction come to life," says Browning. "Whether it's 'The Rocketeer,' or 'Ironman,' or the 'Jetsons,' there are a lot of people who come to us and say, I've been waiting for this all my childhood and you've finally delivered on what that vision was , what that ambition was," which is pretty cool.
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