A Swiss Invasion

The Germans may have failed (twice) but today at lunchtime in the UK the news was all about Yves Rossy the Swiss pilot who flew across the channel on his own jet propelled wings taking just 12 minutes to cross the 22 miles landing above the White Cliffs of Dover.  It would have made a perfect story for a Dad’s army episode – Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Rossy… only this was for real.

Historically the Swiss have always been adventurers, travellers and mercenaries.  Today we can add heros to the list.  It was an act of sheer madness coupled with calculated risk.  “I was born to do this,” said Rossy a former fighter pilot who returns to work piloting an airbus on Monday.

I don’t very often get the “chaire de poule” frisson down my back and mostly I am moved by the human voice in song but watching him coming into land I felt that telltale shiver of wonderment and incredulity.

Jet Man/Fusion Man, whatever you call him, Yves Rossy may finally have put Switzerland’s folklore image of cows and alpine pastures to rest once and for all.