Real-life ‘Iron Man’ soars over Dubai at 240km/h in jet pack wingsuit

A French daredevil has sped across the sky with a jet pack as the dream of personalised flight comes closer (for those game enough to try).

Amazing footage shows a brave pilot soaring above Dubai using a jet pack similar to the Marvel superhero Iron Man.

French daredevil Vince “Jetman” Reffet strapped himself into a wingsuit attached to four mini jet engines and set off over the sprawling city over the weekend.

As part of the stunt, Jetman managed a successful vertical takeoff – that is, from a standing position.

Vince ‘Jetman’ Reffet performed a vertical takeoff and a number of acrobatic stunts during the test. Picture: EXPO 2020/AFP

After taking a few moments to stabilise himself over water, the thrillseeker careened into the sky, hitting 240km/h before pulling his parachute at an altitude of 1500m.

Video of the feat was shared to the Crown Prince of Dubai’s Instagram account on Monday.

“A major milestone in the quest to achieve 100 per cent autonomous human flight. Well done boys,” Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum captioned the post.

The “Jet Wing” jetpack, built by Jetman Dubai, is controlled by the body of the wearer.

It can hit a top speed of 400km/h while also allowing whoever dares fly it to hover, change direction, and perform loops.

RELATED: Dead satellites on collision course

RELATED: Surprising food astronaut craves

Mr Reffet previously base jumped from the world’s tallest building, also in Dubai.

Jetman Dubai says it aims to “create a future for individuals flying with jet wings” and “change the way we experience the world”.

The company hopes to achieve 100 per cent autonomous human flight this year.

“There is a height range where humans cannot fly autonomously,” the company said on its website.

“It is called the grey area. By flying at altitudes never attempted before, Jetman is narrowing the grey area. And in 2020, it will disappear.”

Jetman’s successful test flight marked the first time one of the company’s pilots had combined hovering near the ground and performing “aerobatics” – sophisticated aerial manoeuvres – at high altitude in the same flight.

RELATED: NASA genius’ wild ‘light speed engine’

RELATED: Musk’s rocket ‘blows up’ after launch

He parachuted back to Earth when the flight finished. Picture: EXPO 2020/AFP

One of the next targets is to be able to land without a parachute. Picture: EXPO 2020/AFP

The mission was also the first time a pilot had taken off “vertically” from the ground. Previously, flyers have jumped out of a helicopter at high altitude.

“We are so happy we achieved this incredible flight. It’s the result of extremely thorough teamwork, where each small step generated huge results,” Mr Reffet said after his successful landing.

“Everything was planned to the split second, and I was overjoyed by the progress that was achieved. It is another step in a long-term project.

“One of the next objectives is to land back on the ground after a flight at altitude, without needing to open a parachute. It’s being worked on.”

Vince Reffet is a well-known name in the world of skydiving and in 2014 achieved a record-breaking BASE-jump from the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

Would you be game to fly the jet pack? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission