# Austrian Buzz Lightyear 'flies' unaided across the English channel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094 "2003-07-31T09:44:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/1 "2003-07-31T09:44:22Z")
[This](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3112095.stm) is simply awesome. The dude jumps out of a plane over England at 30,000 feet with some comedy wings strapped to his back, and during his descent he ‘flies’ at 220 mph, covering 22 miles in just 10 minutes across the sea to France, where he deploys his parachute and descends safely to earth. Genius! ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/2 "2003-07-31T09:50:14Z")
All I can say is, that’s utterly amazing. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/3 "2003-07-31T11:30:35Z")
I liked the bit about how he speed tested his wing by strapping himself to the roof of a Porsche! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/4 "2003-07-31T11:31:47Z")
I saw something similar to this (in concept) where the ‘wings’ were nothing more than webbing between the legs and from the arms to the torso, allowing the skydiver to build up quite a respectable lateral speed. IIRC, the guy who invented it (the thing I saw) was working towards being able to land without a parachute, but he was killed in a rock-climbing accident). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/5 "2003-07-31T11:38:13Z")
Hell of a way to commute. I haven’t seen this fixed wing method before. I’ve only been aware of the parachutist with underarm webbing (leg webbing being optional, iircc), which is a similar-ish gliding theory – they tend to jump from even higher, though, using oxygen because of the thin air. Nothing to lose, I’d imagine, as long as you can eject the wings in an emergency, have the parachute (and back up) and something to keep you warm and afloat should you take a dip in the channel . . . Really nice, beautiful actually! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/6 "2003-07-31T11:38:58Z")
I remember that too, **Mangetout** - he was saying that he ‘buzzed’ an alpine restaurant terrace on his way down. All these people were sitting there eating when suddenly this guy flew right over their heads (I believe he could go up momentarily and stall before swooping back down again). He also claimed to have left a plane and re-entered it after all the other skydivers had exited. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/7 "2003-07-31T11:44:13Z")
Some 1980s cartoon fans take their fandom to ridiculous levels. Compare and contrast: [Felix Baumgartner](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39345000/jpg/_39345573_sail203.jpg) - [Ace McCloud from the Centurions](http://www.toonarific.com/c/centurions2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/8 "2003-07-31T11:46:14Z")
oh mangetout ! Take\* that\*, you . . . _you !_ ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/9 "2003-07-31T11:52:52Z")
That’s not flying. That’s just… falling with style. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/10 "2003-07-31T17:58:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I saw something similar to this (in concept) where the ‘wings’ were nothing more than webbing between the legs and from the arms to the torso, \*\* There’s something like this in the trailers for the new Tomb Raider movie. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/11 "2003-07-31T22:46:42Z")
The man has True Grit! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/12 "2003-07-31T23:28:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*I remember that too, **Mangetout** - he was saying that he ‘buzzed’ an alpine restaurant terrace on his way down. All these people were sitting there eating when suddenly this guy flew right over their heads (I believe he could go up momentarily and stall before swooping back down again). He also claimed to have left a plane and re-entered it after all the other skydivers had exited. \*\* I certainly remember these sort of claims, but I still think they were highly dubious - the total ‘wing’ surface of the web suit was only a couple of square metres at most. ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/13 "2003-08-01T01:23:14Z")
It’s on page 54 of the July 2003 Popular Science. Air inlets inflate the wing pockets creating an airfoil shape. The suits do not allow the diver to gain or maintain altitude, but they slow terminal velocity from 120 mph to a mere 35 mph while the lateral speed can be in excess of 80 mph. Still too fast to hit the ground, but they are working on better designs to allow landing without a chute. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/14 "2003-08-01T02:59:41Z")
The man is an inspiration to harebrained daredevils everywhere!(Through my present projects have been scaled back and are far safer) To infinity, and beyond! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/15 "2003-08-01T07:42:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mastema \* > \*\*It’s on page 54 of the July 2003 Popular Science. Air inlets inflate the wing pockets creating an airfoil shape. The suits do not allow the diver to gain or maintain altitude, but they slow terminal velocity from 120 mph to a mere 35 mph while the lateral speed can be in excess of 80 mph. Still too fast to hit the ground, but they are working on better designs to allow landing without a chute. \*\* Hmmm, perhaps a landing on flat water would be possible… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/16 "2003-08-01T08:05:47Z")
Ever crashed a car into a stationary object at 35 mph? I have. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/17 "2003-08-01T09:40:07Z")
Yes, ouch (me too) but 35 mph doesn’t seem like a fatal speed at which to hit a water surface (although the combination of that and the lateral 80mph might make it quite nasty). It sounds just about suvivable though, doesn’t it? Maybe with some sort of device to enable him to plane over the water surface… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/18 "2003-08-01T09:45:31Z")
Recalling my O-level physics, 80mph laterally and 35mph vertically gives us a vector of er… er… er… 87mph. Which is not all that far removed from human terminal velocity (110mph IIRC). So he’d hit the water slightly slower than if he’d have fallen from a plane unaided. However, if, as you say, he could turn himself into a bouncing bomb, or he _could_ stall himself somehow, he’d maybe be able to survive, albeit rather bruised. However, it’s moot really, since the poor chap’s dead anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/19 "2003-08-01T10:36:12Z")
Sure, the vector is 87mph (or whatever), but as he’s not striking a surface perpendicular to that vector, the vertical component is more important (I think). Hmmmm… I’m wondering now about some sort of inflatable super-tough wing-form/lift-body upon which the skydiver would lie flat/feet-first… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094/20 "2003-08-01T11:52:40Z")
The man is not only ballsy, he is reallly cute, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-buzz-lightyear-flies-unaided-across-the-english-channel/192094.md?page=2)