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This time on
"impossible engineering,"
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a real-life birdman...
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The power involved with the suit
is enough to take
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that mass supersonic.
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...The world's fastest
body-controlled jet suit...
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This is ultimate integration
of man, mind, and machine.
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...And the pioneering
historic innovations...
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I told the people on the ground
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that I could thread a needle
with this thing.
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Yes! Whoo-hoo!
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The holy grail
of aviation history.
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00:00:32,980 --> 00:00:35,080
It's a miracle, isn't it?
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...That made
the impossible possible.
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...Captions by vitac...
www.vitac.com
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captions paid for by
discovery communications
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Hampshire, England...
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The birthplace of flight
in the U.K.
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Home to one of the greatest
aeronautical events
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on the planet...
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Farnborough
international air show...
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...where the biggest
aerospace players
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unveil the world's
most cutting-edge technologies.
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- This is gate B.
- Can we be a bit gentle?
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I don't want the engines
to fall out.
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Well, you know,
I'm not used to driving this.
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But this year,
an ambitious team of engineers
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are showcasing
something so unique
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it could steal the show...
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And we're heading
onto the runway.
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...Capable of making
an impossible dream a reality...
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Mankind has always had
this passion for flight,
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always looked up at the sky
and thought,
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"gosh, I wish I could do,
frankly, what the birds do."
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...An innovation
that will allow man to fly free.
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We've had a great
history of putting human beings
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inside flight vehicles...
Helicopters and airplanes.
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I think there's something
deeply inspiring
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about the process of slimming
that down to that raw,
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kind of impossible point
where you,
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as an unencumbered human being,
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could just float around and move
about wherever you like.
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The awe-inspiring solution?
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The personal jet suit.
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The suit consists
of five gas turbines.
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It's the same jet engines
that you see on a jet aircraft.
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Together, they produce enough
thrust that you could equate it
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to around 1,050 horsepower,
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about 1.3 times
a formula one car.
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In terms of straight-line speed,
we set the record
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at about 32 miles an hour.
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It's a Guinness world record.
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This infeasible engineering
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is the extraordinary vision
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of inventor and test pilot
Richard Browning...
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We have opened the doorway
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onto a whole new realm
of human mobility
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that was previously
just the domain of superheroes
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in the science fiction world.
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...Trailblazing design
also shaped
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by aeronautical engineer
Angelo Grubisic.
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With this simple,
small amount of equipment,
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you can essentially gain
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that full three-dimensional
control of human flight
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that people have been aiming for
for the last hundred years,
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and I think that's something
that's very special.
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Weighing just 100 pounds,
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the jet suit is made
from aluminum alloy,
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nylon polymer, and steel.
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Twin tanks holding over
10 gallons of jet fuel
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feed four micro-jet engines
mounted on the arms
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and one on the back,
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all controlled by
a fingertip throttle trigger
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and packed into
just two flight cases...
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Minimal equipment to turn man
into a flying machine.
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Richard and the team are
using revolutionary technology,
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00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,060
but now their jet suit
is about to be put to the test
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in front of the movers
and shakers
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00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:08,530
of the aeronautical world...
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Can you check I'm not twisted?
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...in a show where $170 billion
of deals are struck each year.
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But with human flight,
nothing is guaranteed.
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I'll kick the back
when I'm about to take off.
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When you're building
the impossible,
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the challenges are huge.
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Okay, I'm good.
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So, how do you launch
a man into the skies?
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You require a lot of power
to produce enough thrust
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to get yourself off the ground.
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And once airborne,
how can you maneuver safely?
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We honestly didn't have an idea
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of how we were going to do this,
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and it was a potential reason
why this might be infeasible.
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Today's flight
is the culmination
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of 15 months of development.
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But to achieve the impossible
and fly like a bird,
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the team has had to turn
to the pioneers of the past.
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For centuries,
eccentric aviators have dreamed
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of taking to the skies,
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building hair-raising
contraptions.
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In the 1950s, there was
a new wave of construction.
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Inspired by science fiction,
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the goal was to reduce
the necessary gear
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and fly like a superhero.
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But before all of this,
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the first
successful personal flight
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took its inspiration
from nature.
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Yes! Whoo-hoo!
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5-time world champion
hang glider
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Corinna Schwiegerhausen
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is soaring high above
the Bavarian alps.
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You see
the beauty of these cliffs.
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It's amazing.
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She's only able to fly like this
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because of one inspiring
19th-century visionary.
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Engineer Otto Lilienthal was
the very first birdman.
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In the 1870s, he began designing
a range of winged machines
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based on his studies
on the mechanics of bird flight.
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Two decades later,
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he had constructed
the first known hang glider.
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Look at this.
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This is Otto Lilienthal
with his glider.
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You see, it's a very simple
construction...
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Just made from some fabric
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and some steel wire
and Willow wood.
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But engineered
with an understanding
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of wing aerodynamics,
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in 1891, Lilienthal's glider
changed aeronautical history,
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successfully taking to the air.
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He could launch it
just by running off a hill,
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and then get airborne
by playing with the wing
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and the angle of attack
of his design, and it worked.
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Up to today,
and not only our hang gliders,
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but even
the big passenger planes use
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just the very concept
that he started with his wing.
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And it's a miracle, isn't it?
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The holy grail
of aviation history.
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Over five years,
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Lilienthal increased
his flight distance
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from 80 feet to over 800 feet.
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He became known as
"the flying man".
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In my thoughts,
I often take Otto Lilienthal up
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to our flying adventure.
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We all owe him and adore him
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'cause he made
our free-flying possible.
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He planted the seed for
the whole history of aviation.
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Hidden in a secret location
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in the British countryside,
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an unconventional team of
engineers is bringing
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Otto Lilienthal's passion
for personal flight
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into the 21st century.
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Richard Browning's pioneering
flight suit may not have wings,
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but like Lilienthal's gliders,
this engineering step
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into the unknown relies on vast
amounts of trial and error.
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So our development approach
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00:08:57,650 --> 00:08:59,450
is one of actually having
a portfolio
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of different attributes to
the flight equipment
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00:09:01,560 --> 00:09:03,760
that we try and progress
all at the same time.
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Some of them end up unearthing
interesting opportunity,
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00:09:06,330 --> 00:09:09,130
interesting revelations that
we never imagined.
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00:09:09,130 --> 00:09:10,730
Other ones that we thought
would be easy
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just hit a brick wall,
and we'll pause.
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Richard first strapped
a jet engine to his arm
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in 2016,
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then tried to take flight
with one on each arm,
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then two,
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before attaching three.
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So after really learning from,
say, failure...
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So, in other words,
learning from trying things
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and often falling over
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and realizing
those things didn't work,
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that methodology allowed us
to learn really quite quickly.
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Months of modifications
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with state-of-the-art equipment
eventually pay off.
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Can you get Dave on the fire
extinguisher, please?
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Small, tantalizing
flights show early signs
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that Richard Browning's
fantastical dream
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could become reality.
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It started to dawn on us
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that actually,
this is just the beginning.
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I think we can take this
an awful lot further.
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But to further the jet suit's
development
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and reach higher altitudes...
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00:10:17,370 --> 00:10:21,640
...he would need someone
with his head in the clouds.
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00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,840
Ready?
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Aeronautical engineer
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and world-class wingsuit
base-jumper Angelo Grubisic
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knows a thing or two
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about pushing the limits
of human flight.
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00:10:39,620 --> 00:10:41,520
I've always
been fascinated with skydiving.
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I'm actually getting
into wingsuit flight.
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00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:45,393
You know, essentially trying
to experience
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exactly what birds achieve
on a daily basis.
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He's tasked with refining
Richard's efforts,
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but going from wingsuits
to jet suits
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poses many
problematic questions.
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00:11:01,540 --> 00:11:03,940
There's been no textbook
about how to approach
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this particular aspect
of human flight.
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Angelo and Richard's combined
engineering expertise
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allows finessing
and testing to ramp up.
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00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,690
Okay, Angelo, let's roll.
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00:11:17,690 --> 00:11:20,960
Hundreds of man-hours
increases their altitude.
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Now, they can fly as high
as they dare.
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00:11:25,130 --> 00:11:27,370
Despite some ups and downs...
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00:11:30,770 --> 00:11:33,940
The team has made
an engineering breakthrough,
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00:11:33,940 --> 00:11:35,980
and they're about to reveal
their innovation
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00:11:35,980 --> 00:11:39,310
to the aviation world
for the first time.
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00:11:56,130 --> 00:11:59,000
After less than
two years of trial and error,
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00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,500
inventor Richard Browning's
team of intrepid engineers
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00:12:02,510 --> 00:12:04,340
is preparing to debut
their answer
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00:12:04,340 --> 00:12:08,080
to the challenge
of human flight.
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00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,310
What we've done is settled
on the best solution.
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00:12:14,780 --> 00:12:17,080
Two engines on each forearm
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00:12:17,090 --> 00:12:20,520
and one larger engine
on the rear.
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00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,090
There's been several
leaps forward.
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00:12:23,090 --> 00:12:26,660
One of those was the angle
at which we position
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00:12:26,660 --> 00:12:28,900
each of the engines
relative to the forearm.
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00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:31,730
So, actually splaying them out
slightly gave
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00:12:31,730 --> 00:12:34,100
a lot more stability.
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00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:38,070
Moving the engines to the rear
rather than the lower legs
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00:12:38,070 --> 00:12:40,510
also was
a huge leap forward as well.
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00:12:45,180 --> 00:12:48,550
In a matter of months,
the team has come a long way.
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00:12:50,620 --> 00:12:52,790
Richard Browning and his
pioneering team have been
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00:12:52,790 --> 00:12:55,960
hand-picked to demonstrate
their visionary innovation
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at the Farnborough air show,
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00:12:58,930 --> 00:13:00,560
one of the most
prestigious events
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00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:03,700
on the international
aeronautical calendar.
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00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:05,070
I never imagined
I'd be here at Farnborough
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00:13:05,070 --> 00:13:06,400
in front of huge crowds,
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00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,740
flying a 1,000-horsepower
jet engine suit.
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00:13:08,740 --> 00:13:11,770
It's quite a privilege.
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00:13:11,770 --> 00:13:14,440
As the world of
aviation watches...
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00:13:17,450 --> 00:13:18,780
Alex, this one sounds
a little funny.
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00:13:18,780 --> 00:13:19,980
That's the new one.
234
00:13:19,980 --> 00:13:21,780
...Inventor
Richard Browning gears up
235
00:13:21,780 --> 00:13:24,320
for one of the biggest
flights of his life.
236
00:13:29,290 --> 00:13:31,730
The jet suit's nerve center
is a head's-up display
237
00:13:31,730 --> 00:13:36,400
providing in-flight fuel
and engine status.
238
00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,330
Its range is 4,500 feet,
239
00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:42,970
equivalent to the length
of 28 Olympic swimming pools.
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00:13:42,970 --> 00:13:45,170
A top speed of 31 miles an hour
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00:13:45,170 --> 00:13:48,810
makes it the world's fastest
body-controlled jet suit.
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00:13:52,010 --> 00:13:55,380
But propelling a combined weight
of over 260 pounds
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00:13:55,380 --> 00:14:00,220
this fast requires
an immense amount of force.
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00:14:00,220 --> 00:14:04,330
At a secure location
in Southern England,
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00:14:04,330 --> 00:14:06,830
lead aeronautical engineer
and test pilot
246
00:14:06,830 --> 00:14:11,530
Angelo Grubisic is charged with
solving the propulsion problem.
247
00:14:13,740 --> 00:14:17,440
You essentially need to produce
a lot of thrust.
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00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:18,940
There are two major problems
to solve.
249
00:14:18,940 --> 00:14:21,610
One is how do you produce
enough thrust
250
00:14:21,610 --> 00:14:23,680
to get a human
being off the ground?
251
00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,180
And then how do you do that
in a fuel-efficient way?
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00:14:27,180 --> 00:14:28,720
For inspiration,
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00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,350
the team looked
to the engineers of the past.
254
00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:48,440
Mechanical engineer Dan Dickrell
is in Niagara, New York.
255
00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:49,940
This facility is
256
00:14:49,940 --> 00:14:52,510
the bell aerospace company
airplane factory.
257
00:14:52,510 --> 00:14:55,340
It's a really impressive
piece of history
258
00:14:55,340 --> 00:14:59,650
in terms of airplane
manufacturing.
259
00:14:59,650 --> 00:15:01,780
He's gained exclusive access
to the site
260
00:15:01,780 --> 00:15:05,390
of the greatest
advancement in personal flight.
261
00:15:05,390 --> 00:15:08,560
It's a cool, cool experience
to be here right now.
262
00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:12,030
In the 1950s, bell aerospace
was attempting to develop
263
00:15:12,030 --> 00:15:14,760
a flight-suit
for the U.S. military,
264
00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,070
an innovation
for the soldiers of the future.
265
00:15:18,070 --> 00:15:20,030
Bell challenged its engineers...
266
00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,040
"how do you make a person fly?"
267
00:15:24,610 --> 00:15:26,610
Aeronautical engineer
Wendell Moore
268
00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:29,980
believed rocket propulsion
was the solution.
269
00:15:29,980 --> 00:15:32,780
In the late '50s, he developed
an incredible piece
270
00:15:32,780 --> 00:15:34,550
of military equipment...
271
00:15:39,460 --> 00:15:41,960
The first controllable
rocket pack.
272
00:15:45,660 --> 00:15:48,500
So, this is it.
It's the bell rocket belt.
273
00:15:51,530 --> 00:15:56,140
It's pretty cool to be up close
and personal to this very basic,
274
00:15:56,140 --> 00:15:57,910
yet historic thing.
This is not a model.
275
00:15:57,910 --> 00:15:59,540
This actually flew.
276
00:16:02,650 --> 00:16:03,880
Check this thing out.
277
00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,950
It's got a polystyrene
and fiberglass harness...
278
00:16:06,950 --> 00:16:08,550
That's where the pilot goes.
279
00:16:08,550 --> 00:16:10,020
We see these controls.
280
00:16:10,020 --> 00:16:13,020
There's throttle,
there's directional thrusters.
281
00:16:13,020 --> 00:16:16,020
The aluminum foil sort of hoses
that come down...
282
00:16:16,030 --> 00:16:19,760
This is actually the rocket...
The rocket nozzles themselves.
283
00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:21,060
We swing around the back, we can
284
00:16:21,060 --> 00:16:23,530
Se there's these
three storage tanks.
285
00:16:23,530 --> 00:16:25,870
There's nitrogen in there
and hydrogen peroxide
286
00:16:25,870 --> 00:16:28,340
in the two outer tanks.
287
00:16:28,340 --> 00:16:31,110
Compressed nitrogen
gas in the central chamber
288
00:16:31,110 --> 00:16:35,780
pushes hydrogen peroxide out
of the two surrounding tanks,
289
00:16:35,780 --> 00:16:39,910
bringing it into contact
with a silver catalyst.
290
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:41,850
This causes
the hydrogen peroxide
291
00:16:41,850 --> 00:16:45,750
to instantly decompose
into water and oxygen,
292
00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,020
sparking a huge reaction.
293
00:16:50,190 --> 00:16:53,630
That hydrogen peroxide reaction
is really, really energetic,
294
00:16:53,630 --> 00:16:55,160
creates a lot of heat.
295
00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:56,930
So that water
gets turned into steam,
296
00:16:56,930 --> 00:17:00,370
expands through 5,000 times
its volume,
297
00:17:00,370 --> 00:17:05,140
and exits these nozzles at over
a thousand meters per second.
298
00:17:05,140 --> 00:17:07,240
This almighty force
was powerful enough
299
00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,210
to life man from earth.
300
00:17:11,210 --> 00:17:15,650
Extraordinary energy created
by chemistry.
301
00:17:15,650 --> 00:17:19,390
So what I have here
is effectively a small car
302
00:17:19,390 --> 00:17:21,760
that will be rocket-propelled.
303
00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,390
All right, so let's draw
in some hydrogen peroxide.
304
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,900
I'm going to add this
to these silver spheres.
305
00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:32,930
This makes a lot of heat.
306
00:17:32,940 --> 00:17:34,540
We can see the reaction
is happening.
307
00:17:34,540 --> 00:17:37,640
It is propelling the car
down the table.
308
00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,440
We see the hot gasses
coming out,
309
00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,080
and even
though it's going slowly,
310
00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:43,680
it's the same premise
311
00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,450
that's used
in Wendell Moore's rocket belt.
312
00:17:46,450 --> 00:17:50,450
We can harness the power
of a chemical reaction
313
00:17:50,450 --> 00:17:53,390
and make all sorts
of mechanical motion happen.
314
00:17:53,390 --> 00:17:56,890
Science.
315
00:17:56,890 --> 00:17:59,690
Just like the jet suit's
team of engineers,
316
00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:03,000
Wendell Moore used the most
astonishing science of his day
317
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,100
to launch man into the air.
318
00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:12,140
But in 1961, the bell rocket
belt did just that.
319
00:18:15,380 --> 00:18:18,410
Propelling its pilot
around 32 feet high,
320
00:18:18,410 --> 00:18:22,980
it reached a controlled
34 miles per hour.
321
00:18:22,990 --> 00:18:25,820
But despite impressive
aerial displays,
322
00:18:25,820 --> 00:18:27,720
Wendell Moore's
space-age invention
323
00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,990
had one major limitation.
324
00:18:32,090 --> 00:18:34,460
The bell rocket belt
was not successful in the end
325
00:18:34,460 --> 00:18:36,060
because
its thrust-to-weight ratio
326
00:18:36,070 --> 00:18:37,600
was just not good enough.
327
00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,470
You only had about 20 seconds
of flight time in this version,
328
00:18:40,470 --> 00:18:42,800
and that was not practical
in the battlefield.
329
00:18:42,810 --> 00:18:44,140
But Wendell Moore
had proven that
330
00:18:44,140 --> 00:18:45,610
personal flight was possible.
331
00:18:45,610 --> 00:18:47,170
It's just that
the propulsion system
332
00:18:47,180 --> 00:18:48,880
is what needed some tweaking.
333
00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:02,260
Inventor Richard Browning
334
00:19:02,260 --> 00:19:03,760
and his team of engineers
335
00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,760
owe a huge debt
to the early rocket-men,
336
00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:08,160
who unknowingly ruled out
337
00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,900
the inefficient chemical power
of hydrogen peroxide
338
00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:14,430
as a propulsion solution.
339
00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,010
But another technology powered
by kerosene stood out...
340
00:19:20,010 --> 00:19:22,480
The micro-jet engine.
341
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:24,880
It didn't take us very long
to really settle on jet engines
342
00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,220
as a very likely good solution.
343
00:19:28,220 --> 00:19:31,690
It's a very small, lightweight
form of thrust relative
344
00:19:31,690 --> 00:19:33,620
to how much it produces.
345
00:19:33,620 --> 00:19:36,790
The power involved is enough
to take that mass supersonic,
346
00:19:36,790 --> 00:19:39,930
and the fuel in kerosene is
actually extremely energy-dense,
347
00:19:39,930 --> 00:19:41,630
and yet at the same time,
not very volatile
348
00:19:41,630 --> 00:19:43,400
and not really
that prone to explosion.
349
00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:47,270
It's actually pretty safe
as fuels go.
350
00:19:47,270 --> 00:19:50,440
At arguably the most
prestigious aeronautical event
351
00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:53,740
in the world,
352
00:19:53,740 --> 00:19:57,740
80,000 spectators
and top aircraft specialists
353
00:19:57,750 --> 00:19:59,780
flock to Farnborough air show
354
00:19:59,780 --> 00:20:01,750
to witness
the latest innovations...
355
00:20:06,490 --> 00:20:09,320
...including the fastest
body-controlled jet suit
356
00:20:09,330 --> 00:20:14,900
in the world, powered by over
315 pounds of thrust,
357
00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:18,630
produced by five innovative
micro-jets,
358
00:20:18,630 --> 00:20:24,440
with the potential to one day
fly 3,200 feet in the sky.
359
00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,340
So, you come down here.
We're going to stop about here.
360
00:20:27,340 --> 00:20:29,810
Today, pioneering
pilot Richard Browning
361
00:20:29,810 --> 00:20:32,280
prepares to take flight.
362
00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,050
You're going to take off
and go that way.
363
00:20:34,050 --> 00:20:37,150
- Yep, and you're going to go...
- I'm going to go that way.
364
00:20:37,150 --> 00:20:39,490
So, just how do these
tiny jet engines
365
00:20:39,490 --> 00:20:42,420
produce enough thrust to get
Richard off the ground
366
00:20:42,420 --> 00:20:45,960
and showboating
for his captive audience?
367
00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,660
If you can imagine,
it's like having two Ferraris
368
00:20:48,660 --> 00:20:51,530
at full power,
acting on the human body.
369
00:20:51,530 --> 00:20:54,100
That's the amount of power
we've got going through us.
370
00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:58,070
It will take some custom work
and a healthy dose of kerosene
371
00:20:58,070 --> 00:21:01,510
to make this impossible
engineering a reality.
372
00:21:17,430 --> 00:21:19,460
The micro-jet engine.
373
00:21:19,460 --> 00:21:21,860
The tiny solution
to a big problem
374
00:21:21,860 --> 00:21:24,330
facing
the revolutionary jet suit
375
00:21:24,330 --> 00:21:27,570
and the audacious engineers
behind it.
376
00:21:27,570 --> 00:21:29,970
It didn't take us very long
to really settle on jet engines
377
00:21:29,970 --> 00:21:32,710
as a very likely good solution.
378
00:21:32,710 --> 00:21:34,810
This kerosene-fueled powerhouse
379
00:21:34,810 --> 00:21:37,380
is not only
a comparatively safe option,
380
00:21:37,380 --> 00:21:39,810
but an extremely
forceful one, too.
381
00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:46,450
What's expelled from the back
of a jet engine is mainly air.
382
00:21:46,460 --> 00:21:50,460
In this case,
ejected at 1,600 miles per hour.
383
00:21:53,860 --> 00:21:57,260
The super-powered process
starts at the engine's front.
384
00:21:57,270 --> 00:21:59,330
Air flows in through an inlet.
385
00:21:59,340 --> 00:22:01,970
It's compressed, combined with
the kerosene fuel,
386
00:22:01,970 --> 00:22:07,010
and ignited, which produces
a hot air flow or gas.
387
00:22:07,010 --> 00:22:10,040
Forced through a nozzle,
it rotates a turbine,
388
00:22:10,050 --> 00:22:14,610
which helps ingest more air,
generating immense thrust.
389
00:22:16,590 --> 00:22:18,620
The team has spent months
developing
390
00:22:18,620 --> 00:22:20,190
customized jet engines,
391
00:22:20,190 --> 00:22:24,320
or gas turbines,
at their secret test facility.
392
00:22:24,330 --> 00:22:25,830
So, this is the solution.
393
00:22:25,830 --> 00:22:28,530
This represents the ultimate
in gas turbine technology.
394
00:22:28,530 --> 00:22:30,800
It spins about 117,000 rpm,
395
00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,670
so we're looking at nearly
2,000 revolutions every second.
396
00:22:34,670 --> 00:22:39,840
The gas is coming out the back
at over 1,700 miles per hour
397
00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,040
at about 700 degrees Celsius.
398
00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,180
This is,
in terms of brute power,
399
00:22:44,180 --> 00:22:45,680
the highest power density
400
00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,480
that you can get out of any
particular kind of engine.
401
00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,850
To put the power of these
engines into perspective,
402
00:22:50,850 --> 00:22:52,790
when we've got all of our
engines integrated on the suit,
403
00:22:52,790 --> 00:22:55,420
we're producing nearly
a thousand horsepower.
404
00:22:55,420 --> 00:22:58,260
And if you can imagine,
it's like having two Ferraris
405
00:22:58,260 --> 00:23:01,190
at full power
acting on the human body.
406
00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,163
That's the amount of power
we've got going through us.
407
00:23:03,170 --> 00:23:05,500
And that's all being produced
by these very lightweight
408
00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:10,300
gas turbines, each weighing
no more than 1.85 kilos.
409
00:23:12,110 --> 00:23:14,980
According to
design engineer Sam Rogers,
410
00:23:14,980 --> 00:23:17,640
this ingenious compact,
lightweight solution
411
00:23:17,650 --> 00:23:21,420
radically increases flying time.
412
00:23:21,420 --> 00:23:26,520
The micro-turbine allows us
to have a high level of thrust
413
00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,620
for a much longer period
of time.
414
00:23:28,620 --> 00:23:31,460
We're now into the minutes
rather than seconds.
415
00:23:31,460 --> 00:23:34,090
It means we can have
reasonable flight time
416
00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:36,660
whilst still having
a reasonable fuel efficiency
417
00:23:36,670 --> 00:23:40,300
at the same time.
418
00:23:40,300 --> 00:23:41,700
In little more than a year,
419
00:23:41,700 --> 00:23:44,840
the team has gone from barely
getting off the ground
420
00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,240
to 4-minute-long flights.
421
00:23:53,650 --> 00:23:56,150
But once airborne, they face
another seemingly
422
00:23:56,150 --> 00:23:59,120
impossible problem... steering.
423
00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:01,490
You're not using wings,
elevators, rudder.
424
00:24:01,490 --> 00:24:03,060
We're got none of that.
425
00:24:03,060 --> 00:24:06,090
We honestly didn't have an idea
of how we were going to do this.
426
00:24:09,130 --> 00:24:12,630
But just how do you control
and steer over 1,000 horsepower
427
00:24:12,630 --> 00:24:14,370
strapped to your body?
428
00:24:16,870 --> 00:24:19,910
We honestly didn't have an idea
of how we were going to do this.
429
00:24:19,910 --> 00:24:22,440
A solution to their
seemingly impossible problem
430
00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,010
lies with the innovators
of the past.
431
00:24:33,220 --> 00:24:38,460
The space & rocket center
in Huntsville, Alabama...
432
00:24:38,460 --> 00:24:41,500
The home of America's
first space program.
433
00:24:43,630 --> 00:24:46,130
Veteran astronaut
general Bob Stewart has spent
434
00:24:46,130 --> 00:24:48,670
almost 300 hours in space.
435
00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,510
Stewart was the first
active-duty army pilot
436
00:24:55,510 --> 00:24:58,550
to ever make a space flight.
437
00:24:58,550 --> 00:25:01,550
When you're there, it's
a complete sense of freedom.
438
00:25:01,550 --> 00:25:03,450
You can have lunch
on the ceiling,
439
00:25:03,450 --> 00:25:06,920
you can lift huge weights,
you can get on the side wall
440
00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:08,660
and jump through
the middle of the cabin
441
00:25:08,660 --> 00:25:12,760
and try to grab
peanut M&Ms as you go.
442
00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:14,360
However, working in space
443
00:25:14,360 --> 00:25:18,130
can also be
a dangerous business.
444
00:25:18,130 --> 00:25:19,730
This is mission control Houston.
445
00:25:19,740 --> 00:25:22,540
The hatch is now open.
446
00:25:22,540 --> 00:25:24,800
Astronauts often had
to conduct repairs
447
00:25:24,810 --> 00:25:28,280
outside the safe confines
of the shuttle...
448
00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:29,480
Mark, we got about 60 to go.
449
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,510
60 centimeters.
450
00:25:31,510 --> 00:25:35,380
...and were tethered to prevent
them from floating away,
451
00:25:35,380 --> 00:25:38,320
at the cost of maneuverability.
452
00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,350
The primary problem with being
tethered in space
453
00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:42,990
is that restriction.
454
00:25:42,990 --> 00:25:45,460
I want to go out here
to fix something,
455
00:25:45,460 --> 00:25:47,890
and my tether
is 3 feet too short,
456
00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:50,330
and I'm sitting here so close,
and yet so far.
457
00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,640
You get to thinking, "what if
I could figure some way to do"
458
00:26:03,650 --> 00:26:08,620
without that tether, so that
I'm no longer constrained?"
459
00:26:08,620 --> 00:26:11,720
Yeah, that's it, and you can
head toward the airlock.
460
00:26:13,990 --> 00:26:17,290
In 1984, NASA engineer
Charles E. Whitsett
461
00:26:17,290 --> 00:26:20,790
came up with a solution that
would free up the astronauts
462
00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:22,760
and allow them to make
untethered flights
463
00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,930
outside the craft,
464
00:26:25,930 --> 00:26:31,440
an invention that could
help out the jet suit team,
465
00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:37,340
known as the manned
maneuvering unit, or M.M.U.
466
00:26:37,350 --> 00:26:40,810
With this machine,
we could fly freely,
467
00:26:40,820 --> 00:26:43,620
and it is just the most
delightful flying machine
468
00:26:43,620 --> 00:26:45,350
that I have ever encountered.
469
00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,460
It is the easiest thing
I have ever operated.
470
00:26:50,460 --> 00:26:51,930
I told the people on the ground
471
00:26:51,930 --> 00:26:54,190
that I could thread
a needle with this thing.
472
00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:01,940
It allowed Bob Stewart
and his fellow astronauts
473
00:27:01,940 --> 00:27:04,840
to make the first-ever
untethered space walk.
474
00:27:06,910 --> 00:27:08,070
Good boy.
475
00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,880
Thank you for bringing me home.
476
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,550
The M.M.U. Gave
astronauts complete control
477
00:27:13,550 --> 00:27:17,020
in the most unforgiving
of environments.
478
00:27:17,020 --> 00:27:19,650
If I want to roll the vehicle,
479
00:27:19,660 --> 00:27:21,250
I roll it with this axis
right here,
480
00:27:21,260 --> 00:27:24,020
just with those
fingertip-type motions.
481
00:27:24,030 --> 00:27:27,590
If I want to pitch it,
it's a rotation like this.
482
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,660
So, by combinations
of these movements,
483
00:27:30,670 --> 00:27:32,500
I can make the machine
do anything
484
00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:35,800
I want to as far
as the attitude that I'm in.
485
00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,270
If I want to go somewhere,
I do that with my left hand...
486
00:27:39,270 --> 00:27:41,780
The translational hand
controller.
487
00:27:41,780 --> 00:27:43,840
And it is a
push-in-the-direction-you-want-
488
00:27:43,850 --> 00:27:45,280
to-go type of control.
489
00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,610
This would back me up,
this would go forward,
490
00:27:47,620 --> 00:27:51,420
this slide me to the right,
slide me to the left,
491
00:27:51,420 --> 00:27:53,490
and push me up or down.
492
00:27:55,690 --> 00:27:57,420
This mind-blowing
maneuverability
493
00:27:57,430 --> 00:27:59,930
was down to
precision thrust control.
494
00:28:02,030 --> 00:28:05,630
Three thrusters located on each
of the suit's eight corners
495
00:28:05,630 --> 00:28:07,530
were oriented
at different angles,
496
00:28:07,540 --> 00:28:11,810
producing intricate
and effortless steering.
497
00:28:11,810 --> 00:28:13,570
26 pounds of nitrogen
498
00:28:13,580 --> 00:28:18,210
provided propulsion
for a six-hour flight.
499
00:28:18,210 --> 00:28:20,080
I felt very relaxed
in this thing,
500
00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:24,380
and it was like sitting
in an easy chair.
501
00:28:24,390 --> 00:28:27,820
After three
space shuttle missions,
502
00:28:27,820 --> 00:28:30,020
NASA retired the M.M.U.
503
00:28:30,030 --> 00:28:32,330
It makes me sad to see
504
00:28:32,330 --> 00:28:35,700
that NASA made the decision
to discontinue it.
505
00:28:35,700 --> 00:28:37,730
And about six of us guys
went to the bar
506
00:28:37,730 --> 00:28:41,940
and had a beer
and cried about it
507
00:28:41,940 --> 00:28:45,610
because it's a lovely
flying machine.
508
00:28:45,610 --> 00:28:49,210
Though successful, ultimately
untethered flights in space
509
00:28:49,210 --> 00:28:52,250
were deemed too risky.
510
00:28:52,250 --> 00:28:57,520
But the M.M.U. Will forever
remain an icon of space flight.
511
00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,190
When you reach far and you try
to grasp things
512
00:29:01,190 --> 00:29:06,390
so far beyond your capability,
and you make it work,
513
00:29:06,390 --> 00:29:09,430
that is a great, great feeling.
514
00:29:12,130 --> 00:29:14,000
Richard Browning and his team
are familiar
515
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,170
with that sense of triumph.
516
00:29:16,170 --> 00:29:20,040
It's exciting and exhilarating
and certainly focused the mind.
517
00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,110
They'll draw inspiration
from the revolutionary ideas
518
00:29:23,110 --> 00:29:27,580
behind the M.M.U.
To launch man into the future.
519
00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,600
Much like the manned
maneuvering unit of the '80s,
520
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:51,140
Richard Browning and his team
521
00:29:51,140 --> 00:29:56,310
are also directing thrust
to maneuver their jet suit.
522
00:29:56,310 --> 00:30:00,280
But unlike the historic M.M.U.,
it's the pilot who moves,
523
00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:04,120
or vectors, the engine's nozzles
to give precise control.
524
00:30:07,220 --> 00:30:09,620
To our surprise, what started
to bear fruit
525
00:30:09,620 --> 00:30:10,960
was not the idea of individually
526
00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:12,890
controlling the throttles
of each engine.
527
00:30:12,890 --> 00:30:15,360
It was not vectoring them
with adjustable nozzles.
528
00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,660
It was actually vectoring them
using your arms.
529
00:30:17,670 --> 00:30:20,230
The geometry of those arm mounts
is very, very specific,
530
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,240
and suddenly, it unlocked a huge
amount of stability and control.
531
00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:25,270
It feels entirely planted.
532
00:30:27,740 --> 00:30:30,510
The solution is to have three
main points of thrust
533
00:30:30,510 --> 00:30:33,450
to form a stable tripod of air.
534
00:30:33,450 --> 00:30:36,280
All five engine nozzles
are fixed.
535
00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,920
Those on the arms can be
adjusted by simple movements,
536
00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,360
creating a stable three-point
vector control system
537
00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:45,160
unique to the jet suit.
538
00:30:47,460 --> 00:30:50,100
So, this is the solution that
we've found worked best,
539
00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,770
creating that
three respective controls.
540
00:30:52,770 --> 00:30:55,340
So, one, two,
and then three on the rear.
541
00:30:55,340 --> 00:30:56,800
And then between those three,
542
00:30:56,810 --> 00:30:59,740
you balance all of
those thrust vector.
543
00:30:59,740 --> 00:31:03,640
For example, to lose altitude,
you flare out the engines,
544
00:31:03,650 --> 00:31:05,880
which are operating at 100%
all the time,
545
00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:07,950
and it will reduce
your vertical thrust vector
546
00:31:07,950 --> 00:31:09,080
and you will descend.
547
00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:10,720
As you bring the arms in,
548
00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:12,550
you're increasing
your vertical thrust vector,
549
00:31:12,550 --> 00:31:14,990
and you'll start
to gain altitude.
550
00:31:14,990 --> 00:31:17,690
And then very small changes
in those thrust vectors
551
00:31:17,690 --> 00:31:22,560
are enough to actually initiate
roll or sliding side to side.
552
00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:24,260
And it's all to do
with weight-shifting
553
00:31:24,270 --> 00:31:26,430
and thrust vector control.
554
00:31:28,940 --> 00:31:30,900
Maneuvering
these cutting-edge jets
555
00:31:30,910 --> 00:31:34,340
is finessed for hours
above the safety above water.
556
00:31:34,340 --> 00:31:37,110
Shadowing a nimble jetski
proves the perfect way
557
00:31:37,110 --> 00:31:40,050
to fine-tune
this skillful control.
558
00:31:40,050 --> 00:31:43,350
But with any flight,
the stakes are high.
559
00:31:43,350 --> 00:31:46,620
It's critical that pilot Richard
knows all five engines
560
00:31:46,620 --> 00:31:48,320
are operating smoothly.
561
00:31:52,430 --> 00:31:57,230
Engineer Alex Wilson is facing
this communication challenge.
562
00:31:57,230 --> 00:31:59,000
When you're flying along
at 30 miles an hour,
563
00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,330
10 feet above the ground,
it's quite important you're able
564
00:32:01,340 --> 00:32:03,500
to monitor the amount of fuel
that's left in your tank.
565
00:32:03,510 --> 00:32:04,940
It's quite a critical thing.
566
00:32:04,940 --> 00:32:05,970
You don't want to drop
out of the sky
567
00:32:05,970 --> 00:32:08,370
because you've run out of fuel.
568
00:32:08,380 --> 00:32:09,980
Alex and the team's solution
569
00:32:09,980 --> 00:32:12,780
wouldn't look out of place
in a Sci-Fi movie.
570
00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:20,520
The jet suit employs the latest
engine control unit engineering.
571
00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,760
State-of-the-art
electrical systems monitor
572
00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:28,060
and control each engine
to optimize efficiency.
573
00:32:28,060 --> 00:32:30,430
An ultra-lightweight carbon
helmet and visor
574
00:32:30,430 --> 00:32:35,370
with built-in display are
wirelessly linked to the suit,
575
00:32:35,370 --> 00:32:39,840
constantly updating the pilot
with engine and fuel data.
576
00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,710
The control board is the brains
of the whole system.
577
00:32:42,710 --> 00:32:45,140
That monitors all of
the five engines' data
578
00:32:45,150 --> 00:32:47,380
so that you can package this
into the most important
579
00:32:47,380 --> 00:32:50,150
vital systems information to
send up to the heads-up display
580
00:32:50,150 --> 00:32:52,290
so Richard can monitor
his temperature,
581
00:32:52,290 --> 00:32:54,820
his rpm, most importantly,
his fuel systems
582
00:32:54,820 --> 00:32:57,590
so he knows how much fuel
he's got left.
583
00:32:57,590 --> 00:32:59,260
So head-up display.
584
00:32:59,260 --> 00:33:00,993
All right, so this is a new one,
where we've taken...
585
00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:02,700
Alex is continuously developing
586
00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:04,060
the electrical systems.
587
00:33:04,070 --> 00:33:05,730
Do you want to try it on?
588
00:33:05,730 --> 00:33:09,070
Yeah, I do.
589
00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:10,940
He's currently
testing improvements
590
00:33:10,940 --> 00:33:12,740
to the heads-up display...
591
00:33:12,740 --> 00:33:14,010
So, how does it feel now?
592
00:33:14,010 --> 00:33:17,780
It feels perfectly normal.
It's really nice, yeah.
593
00:33:17,780 --> 00:33:21,380
...mind-blowing technology
first used by fighter pilots.
594
00:33:21,380 --> 00:33:23,450
All vital information
is projected
595
00:33:23,450 --> 00:33:25,850
in front of the pilot's eyes.
- This solution is brilliant
596
00:33:25,850 --> 00:33:27,453
because it's focused
right in front of you.
597
00:33:27,460 --> 00:33:29,760
So, I can stare right ahead,
I can look wherever I'm flying,
598
00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:32,460
and then still be able to see
all of my engine systems
599
00:33:32,460 --> 00:33:33,760
in real time
without needing to focus.
600
00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:36,700
And it just overlays it
over my normal vision.
601
00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:38,160
Without this head's-up display,
602
00:33:38,170 --> 00:33:39,800
this whole venture would be
so much more dangerous.
603
00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,140
It's like flying a plane
without a cockpit.
604
00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:50,580
But to stay at the
cutting-edge of new technology,
605
00:33:50,580 --> 00:33:53,910
the whole suit must also
be developed to the Max.
606
00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,050
When working on something
as advanced
607
00:33:56,050 --> 00:33:58,080
and futuristic as a jet suit,
608
00:33:58,090 --> 00:34:01,490
we need a manufacturing process
that can live up to that.
609
00:34:01,490 --> 00:34:04,290
And will the team's
showcase flight rise to
610
00:34:04,290 --> 00:34:06,630
its impossible challenge?
611
00:34:06,630 --> 00:34:08,760
It's happening.
He's about to take off.
612
00:34:30,020 --> 00:34:32,190
Farnborough in
Southern England...
613
00:34:37,060 --> 00:34:39,090
...where innovative engineers...
614
00:34:39,090 --> 00:34:40,290
Okay, I'm good.
615
00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:42,600
...are showcasing their
phenomenal jet suit
616
00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,300
at one of the world's
greatest air shows.
617
00:34:46,300 --> 00:34:48,870
It's pretty special every time
I fly this
618
00:34:48,870 --> 00:34:50,400
anywhere, really,
even in testing.
619
00:34:50,410 --> 00:34:53,610
But to do it in Farnborough,
the home of British aviation
620
00:34:53,610 --> 00:34:55,640
and in front of a big crowd
and on a runway
621
00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,510
where so many other
amazing aircraft are flying,
622
00:34:58,510 --> 00:35:02,720
it's exciting and exhilarating
and certainly focused the mind.
623
00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:04,980
It has taken
hundreds of hours of testing
624
00:35:04,990 --> 00:35:07,120
to get to this stage.
625
00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,260
Throughout the 15-month process,
626
00:35:09,260 --> 00:35:11,720
evolving the suit
has been vital.
627
00:35:14,130 --> 00:35:17,730
Countless design alterations
have created massive challenges
628
00:35:17,730 --> 00:35:20,530
for design engineer Sam Rogers.
629
00:35:20,540 --> 00:35:21,900
Bringing the flight suit to life
630
00:35:21,900 --> 00:35:23,140
really wouldn't be possible
631
00:35:23,140 --> 00:35:26,370
without a very reactive
manufacture process.
632
00:35:26,370 --> 00:35:29,480
Some of the main challenges
are to be able to test
633
00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:31,480
and iterate very, very quickly,
634
00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,550
and keeping ahead of anyone else
who might be developing
635
00:35:34,550 --> 00:35:37,680
a similar technology
is very beneficial.
636
00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:43,590
If the jet suit's team
is to keep ahead of the game,
637
00:35:43,590 --> 00:35:46,330
they need a super-fast
build technique.
638
00:35:46,330 --> 00:35:49,330
When working on something
as advanced and futuristic
639
00:35:49,330 --> 00:35:52,370
as a jet suit,
we need a manufacturing process
640
00:35:52,370 --> 00:35:55,000
that can live up to that.
641
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,270
Fortunately, one of
history's engineers
642
00:35:57,270 --> 00:35:59,410
can provide the solution.
643
00:36:01,980 --> 00:36:04,640
In 1983, American Chuck hull
644
00:36:04,650 --> 00:36:07,280
came up with
stereolithography...
645
00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,050
...an extraordinary
layering process
646
00:36:12,050 --> 00:36:14,220
which focused a beam
of ultraviolet light
647
00:36:14,220 --> 00:36:18,320
onto liquid
to form solid structures.
648
00:36:18,330 --> 00:36:21,890
The value to that is you can see
your design errors,
649
00:36:21,900 --> 00:36:24,330
you can get feedback,
you can change it quickly
650
00:36:24,330 --> 00:36:27,670
and have another one.
651
00:36:27,670 --> 00:36:29,200
Hull's innovation would evolve
652
00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:32,770
into what is known
as 3-d printing,
653
00:36:32,770 --> 00:36:34,270
a game-changing invention
654
00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:36,610
that is now allowing
the jet suit's engineers
655
00:36:36,610 --> 00:36:39,780
to build the impossible.
656
00:36:39,780 --> 00:36:42,420
The starting point is selective
laser sintering,
657
00:36:42,420 --> 00:36:45,380
or S.L.S., an efficient process
658
00:36:45,390 --> 00:36:49,260
used to prototype
new parts in plastic.
659
00:36:49,260 --> 00:36:51,790
We used the nylon s.L.S. Process
660
00:36:51,790 --> 00:36:53,930
to test-fit
some of the arm mounts,
661
00:36:53,930 --> 00:36:55,860
and then if we're happy
with the fit,
662
00:36:55,860 --> 00:36:57,860
then we'll move over
and build this in metal,
663
00:36:57,870 --> 00:37:00,330
because the metal process
is significantly more expensive
664
00:37:00,340 --> 00:37:02,770
than building something
in polymer.
665
00:37:02,770 --> 00:37:07,070
Printing in metal involves
trailblazing engineering.
666
00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:09,680
A computer-generated design
is brought to life
667
00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:14,750
by layering powdered titanium
in the metal sintering machine.
668
00:37:14,750 --> 00:37:16,980
So, in here, we have
the receptacle
669
00:37:16,990 --> 00:37:18,950
where the powder is stored.
670
00:37:18,950 --> 00:37:20,350
At the bottom of this,
671
00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:22,620
there's a plunger-type mechanism
that will rise,
672
00:37:22,620 --> 00:37:25,420
and this will cause the powder
level to rise at the top here.
673
00:37:25,430 --> 00:37:27,290
This mechanism,
called the recoater arm, ,
674
00:37:27,300 --> 00:37:30,430
will then drag a layer of powder
over the build plate.
675
00:37:30,430 --> 00:37:33,400
This very thin layer will then
be scanned with the laser.
676
00:37:35,870 --> 00:37:37,370
Today, the lab is prototyping
677
00:37:37,370 --> 00:37:39,540
some new, intricate designs.
678
00:37:41,540 --> 00:37:46,280
The laser operates
at 3,034 degrees Fahrenheit,
679
00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:50,550
instantly melting each minute
layer of titanium.
680
00:37:50,550 --> 00:37:52,390
The layer thickness
depends on the material.
681
00:37:52,390 --> 00:37:54,950
This can range from 20 microns
to 40 microns.
682
00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:59,230
20 microns is 20,000ths of
a millimeter thick.
683
00:37:59,230 --> 00:38:02,330
Once melted, another
fine layer of titanium powder
684
00:38:02,330 --> 00:38:05,830
is dragged across
to repeat the process.
685
00:38:05,830 --> 00:38:08,570
This precision layering builds
a complex design
686
00:38:08,570 --> 00:38:11,440
in one single structure.
687
00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,910
Detailing
on this micro-turbine housing
688
00:38:13,910 --> 00:38:18,740
would simple not be possible
with conventional manufacturing.
689
00:38:18,750 --> 00:38:21,280
And that's how it would
look like once it's completed.
690
00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:23,580
This will comprise of about
5,000 layers
691
00:38:23,580 --> 00:38:26,990
and probably take about
two days to build this part.
692
00:38:28,820 --> 00:38:30,590
3-d printing speed
693
00:38:30,590 --> 00:38:32,860
and seemingly impossible
detailing
694
00:38:32,860 --> 00:38:34,530
are making the unlikely dream
695
00:38:34,530 --> 00:38:39,430
of the gravity-defying
jet suit a reality.
696
00:38:39,430 --> 00:38:41,370
It really makes
a huge difference
697
00:38:41,370 --> 00:38:42,870
on top of what we would be able
698
00:38:42,870 --> 00:38:44,570
to do with standard
manufacturing methods.
699
00:38:44,570 --> 00:38:47,540
It really removes the limits
of what we can create
700
00:38:47,540 --> 00:38:49,180
and design for the flight suit.
701
00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:57,080
But with the
aeronautical community watching,
702
00:38:57,090 --> 00:39:00,750
will this 3-d-printed,
gravity-defying jet suit
703
00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:02,460
rise to the challenge?
704
00:39:23,140 --> 00:39:25,140
At Farnborough air show,
705
00:39:25,150 --> 00:39:28,150
Richard Browning makes
final preparations for a flight
706
00:39:28,150 --> 00:39:32,320
that must impress
the aeronautical community.
707
00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:35,450
If getting off the ground safely
wasn't tough enough,
708
00:39:35,460 --> 00:39:40,690
today's routine is choreographed
with the team truck.
709
00:39:40,700 --> 00:39:42,900
Of course, you know, when you've
got a truck coming towards you
710
00:39:42,900 --> 00:39:45,930
at quite a speed, you know,
you've got to have good control
711
00:39:45,930 --> 00:39:47,600
and make sure that at no time
712
00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:49,716
do you ever even consider
moving in front of that truck.
713
00:39:54,940 --> 00:39:57,680
It's happening.
He's about to take off.
714
00:39:59,150 --> 00:40:02,580
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
715
00:40:02,580 --> 00:40:05,050
Finally,
the jet suit is launched...
716
00:40:09,820 --> 00:40:13,730
...propelled by five
miniature jet engines.
717
00:40:13,730 --> 00:40:17,300
Come on, Richard.
Come on, Richard.
718
00:40:17,300 --> 00:40:21,000
Encased in
cutting-edge materials,
719
00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,040
Richard's
seemingly impossible flight
720
00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:25,500
rockets to 30 miles per hour.
721
00:40:30,340 --> 00:40:32,450
It's a daredevil climax...
722
00:40:35,580 --> 00:40:36,720
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
723
00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:39,420
...completed
with pinpoint accuracy.
724
00:40:46,030 --> 00:40:48,060
It's great.
I mean, it's an amazing venue
725
00:40:48,060 --> 00:40:49,460
to be flying around in.
726
00:40:49,460 --> 00:40:52,230
Everything ran very well,
felt smooth.
727
00:40:52,230 --> 00:40:53,500
Yeah, it's really good,
actually.
728
00:40:53,500 --> 00:40:55,030
Very pleased indeed.
729
00:41:00,610 --> 00:41:02,070
The personal jet suit's
730
00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:03,580
successful Farnborough debut
731
00:41:03,580 --> 00:41:07,310
will ensure they land firmly
on the world stage.
732
00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:12,080
As an aerospace
engineer, it's phenomenal.
733
00:41:12,090 --> 00:41:14,250
It's the ultimate project.
734
00:41:14,260 --> 00:41:17,020
To be building these systems,
wearing them and flying them...
735
00:41:17,020 --> 00:41:19,590
It's just a dream come true.
736
00:41:19,590 --> 00:41:22,560
For this ambitious
aeronautical team,
737
00:41:22,560 --> 00:41:27,300
the sky's the limit when it
comes to impossible engineering.
738
00:41:27,300 --> 00:41:28,600
Being able to actually touch
739
00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:30,270
and hold this machinery
is something that
740
00:41:30,270 --> 00:41:33,670
I've always really wanted to do
from when I was very young.
741
00:41:33,670 --> 00:41:36,010
And to be able to actually
get up close to it,
742
00:41:36,010 --> 00:41:39,280
feel it, see how it works
is a real privilege.
743
00:41:43,450 --> 00:41:44,850
This system is unlike any of
744
00:41:44,850 --> 00:41:47,490
the human flight systems
we've seen before.
745
00:41:47,490 --> 00:41:48,750
Controlling all of the thrust,
746
00:41:48,760 --> 00:41:50,260
having it directly
onto your arms
747
00:41:50,260 --> 00:41:54,890
is just so much more exciting
and so much more inspiring.
748
00:41:54,900 --> 00:41:56,330
By building on the work
749
00:41:56,330 --> 00:41:58,760
of the pioneers of the past,
750
00:41:58,770 --> 00:42:02,500
overcoming huge challenges,
751
00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:06,140
and pushing technology
to even greater heights,
752
00:42:06,140 --> 00:42:08,310
these engineers are succeeding
753
00:42:08,310 --> 00:42:11,640
in making
the impossible possible.
754
00:42:11,650 --> 00:42:13,880
Some of the technology could
well create
755
00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:17,250
an entirely new direction
for human mobility.
756
00:42:18,890 --> 00:42:20,090
I think the suit opens up
757
00:42:20,090 --> 00:42:21,650
a doorway
to an entirely new world,
758
00:42:21,660 --> 00:42:24,720
and I'd like to think our
journey has been all about that.
759
00:42:24,770 --> 00:42:29,320
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