In 2004, Yves Rossy became the first man in the history of aviation to fly with a jet-propelled wing. After successfully completing training as a military pilot, he flew the Hawker Hunter and later the Mirage III. After his career in the Air Force, he worked as a commercial airline... Read more
In 2004, Yves Rossy became the first man in the history of aviation to fly with a jet-propelled wing.
After successfully completing training as a military pilot, he flew the Hawker Hunter and later the Mirage III. After his career in the Air Force, he worked as a commercial airline Captain with Swiss International Air Lines on both Boeing and Airbus airliners.
Rossy has always dedicated himself to experimental flight in all its forms. His dream has always been to fly in the purest form possible by minimising the constraints of enclosure in an aircraft shell. Drawn initially to the world of free fall, he experimented with ways in which to increase his flight time and enhance his ability to select his trajectory; essentially moving away from falling towards flying: sky surfing and wing suiting only whet his appetite further. Still not satisfied, he developed his first real wing, comprising a rigid harness integrated into inflatable wing tips that he strapped to his back. This surpassed all other innovation in prolonging free fall but was still not close enough to his goal of human flight.
The next step was towards maintaining and gaining altitude by improving e efficiency with a rigid wing and adding propulsion. Yves chose to go with model jet turbines, at first 2 of them, allowing him to maintain level flight in 2004, and then 4 to finally conquer the 3rd dimension in 2006. These flights were not conducted within an enclosed space with mechanical controls and instruments, but by manipulating his body as an extension to the wing.
This achievement was the culmination of 10 years of development and more than 15 prototypes. The only instrumentation he had was altimeter and a hand-held throttle. Since then, Rossy has been working constantly to optimize his wing’s handling and performance.
Jetman first came to the world’s attention in May 2008 with his first official flight over the Swiss Alps. An incredulous public sat up and took note. In September 2008, 99 years after the first crossing of the English Channel by air, he followed the path of Louis Blériot, achieving an amazing flight that was broadcasted live to 165 countries and covered by the media worldwide. Rossy became legendary – even though, from his perspective, he has just opened the door on the realms of possibility.
Rossy relocated to Dubai in 2014 to continue and develop his dream of flying with the help of the local partner XDubai. In May 2015, Jetman Dubai introduced Rossy’s protégé Vince Reffet. A well-known name in the world of skydiving with extraordinary, gravity-defying feats to his name, Vince has been trained and mentored by Rossy over the last couple of years. Set on the path to achieve what has long been thought of as impossible, Rossy and Reffet have also developed two exhilarating formation flights that are sure to set the sky on fire and further spread the joy of flight to a larger audience.
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You can book Yves Rossy through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Yves's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Yves Rossy's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Yves tailored to your event.
Yves Rossy speaks on Innovation & Creativity, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Transportation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Yves to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Yves Rossy for events worldwide, subject to Yves's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Yves Rossy is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Yves can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Yves Rossy on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Yves can offer.
Yves Rossy delivers keynotes in German. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Yves Rossy's areas of expertise include Innovation & Creativity, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Transportation. To get a clear sense of Yves's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Yves Rossy can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Innovation & Creativity, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Transportation is relevant. Details of Yves's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Yves Rossy is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Yves Rossy, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Yves's current availability for your dates.