Flying has always been man's ultimate dream, only a few have experienced it. You may argue that its no longer un reachable, after all we can always catch a flight. But can sitting in the middle row of a jumbo jet really be termed as flying? Rossy, 48, who was a former fighter pilot and extreme sports enthusiast, has done something that most of us can only dream of. He stepped out of the Swiss-built Pilatus Porter aircraft at 7,500 feet and unfolded the rigid eight-foot wings strapped to his back before jumping. Passing from free fall to a gentle glide, Rossy then triggered four jet turbines and accelerated to 186 miles per hour, about 65 miles per hour faster than the typical falling skydiver. A plane that flew at some distance beside him measured his speed. The crowd on the mountaintop below gasped and cheered. Steering with his body, Rossy dived, turned and soared again, performing what appeared to be effortless loops from one side of the Rhone valley to the other. At times he rose 2,600 feet before descending again. Wednesday's five-minute flight, he is ready now for a bigger challenge: crossing the English Channel this year. The stunt, which will be shown on live television, will test his flying machine to the limit. Rossy said he plans to practice the 22-mile trip by flying between two hot-air balloons. "I still haven't used the full potential," he said. Indeed he hasn't fully used his full potential he says that one day he also hopes to fly through the Grand Canyon. To do this, he will have to fit his wings with bigger, more powerful jets to allow for greater maneuverability. The German-built model aircraft engines he currently uses already provide 200 pounds of thrust, enough to allow Rossy and his 120-pound flying suit to climb through the air.

So far Rossy and his sponsors, including the Swiss watch company Hublot, have poured more than $285,000 and countless hours of labor into building the device. He would not estimate how much his device would cost should it ever be brought to market. But, he believes similar jet-powered wings will one day be more widely available to experienced parachutists ready for the ultimate flying experience. We salute the human spirit to achieve one's set goal.

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