'Iron man' flight sets first world record

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

An interesting new take on the jetpack.

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It wasn't Hollywood but Richard Browning's bid to make world history was straight out of a superhero film.

Browning set a Guinness World Record for the fastest speed in a body-controlled jet engine power suit this week.

The founder and chief test pilot of British tech company Gravity Industries reached a speed of 32.02mph on his third attempt at Lagoona Park in Reading.

The "Iron Man" suit is made up of six kerosene-fuelled micro gas turbines, which each have 22kg of thrust.

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It is controlled solely by body movement so Browning had to practice core strength exercises before his record attempt so he was able to balance in the air.

Mr Browning told Reuters: "It's a very special moment every time we suit up, it's about 45 kilos so you really know your'e about to go and do something.

"As the engine starts fuelling up it starts to build, you can sense the energy.

"And the moment the ground leaves your feet and you're actually in the air, it's a pleasure and a joy."

More: https://news.sky.com/story/richard-browning-sets-world-record-in-jet-engine-iron-man-suit-11119148

[Bill Ryan]

Wow! :bigsmile: I wasn't expecting that.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQANBPpU8X4

[Noelle]

Watching this kind of technology being developed and in action, it really makes me question the inspiration for our favorite superheros and their super powers and super tools/weapons. Are the writers of these stories channeling information from the future?

[Foxie Loxie]

Where did Jules Verne get HIS information?! :bigsmile:

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Call me a total ignoramus, but I had virtually no idea what 'iron man' was when this story broke. I have exactly zero interest in the super-hero craze that is saturating TV, films, games, music, books, comic books, and every other damn thing...:bigsmile:

Original vid seems to be down, but there's a better one on the BBC website - although I can't embed it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-41915072/iron-man-flight-sets-first-world-record

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Watching this kind of technology being developed and in action, it really makes me question the inspiration for our favorite superheros and their super powers and super tools/weapons. Are the writers of these stories channeling information from the future?

Personally I don't believe these writers are. Certainly some writers, especially sci-fi writers, can and do tap into the collective zeitgeist of what is happening and where things are going – quite possibly into the far future. And yeh, as Foxie implied with Jules Verne, some are visionaries. Prophets even. But not these Hollywood hacks.

If there is anything at all behind this super-hero stuff, it's something subversive (as Hollywood tends to be). It could well be another facet of the Transhumanist agenda to inculcate a sense of weakness and inferiority on the masses. It's telling us we must worship technology in order to improve human potential and the human condition (and not the Spirit).