When was the last time people got excited about someone flying across the English Channel? There was Louis Bleriot who did it in a 25hp Blériot XI in 1909. Dr. Paul MacCready crossed in the Gossamer Albatross using only human power in 1979. In 1981 MacCready's Solar Challenger flew across using only solar power. It's been a while though. Last week, Fusionman Yves Rossy made history when he flew across the English Channel. Notice, I don't say "flew across the channel in a ______" because it was just him.

Though not quite up to level of Superman, Rossy is pretty close. He has developed a 121 pound wing made of carbon fiber that he powers using four small turbine engines. Dropping from an aircraft and landing with the help of a parachute, Rossy was able to cross from Calais to Dover in 10 minutes.

If you haven't visited the Fusionman website, be sure to do so! It's packed with pictures and great videos. The concept of a flying wing is as old as Greek myth, but it's taken thousands of years for this aviation pioneer to develop it. He's flown it many times around his local area in Switzerland, but this is the first milestone flight he's made so far. I am definitely looking forward to hearing about more! Maybe he'll get out to Oshkosh sometime...