Jet suit racing comes to London Tech Week 2019

Gravity Industries showcases sport of the future in UK capital ahead of International Race Series launch

London Tech Week, Europe’s largest festival of technology and innovation hosted the UK’s first live multi-pilot Jet Suit race demonstration over the Royal Victoria Docks waterway. Gravity Industries, the designers, builders and pilots of the world’s first patented Jet Suit, showcased their technology with an exhilarating preview event to close out the TechXLR8 conference on Thursday 13th June.

Richard Browning the Founder and Chief Test Pilot of Gravity Industries and ‘real life Iron Man’ joined two other pilots from Gravity Industries to give a first look of their Race Series concept ahead of the launch of Gravity Industries’ International Race Series in early 2020. The pilots scoped out the Royal Victoria Docks waterway in East London as a potential race location.

The Jet Suits can currently reach speeds of up to 55mph safely and manoeuvre very quickly, Gravity Industries aims to make Jet Suit racing an exciting new global sport, which will see a diverse range of trained pilots putting their flight skills to the test, competing in teams, on courses around the world.

Gravity Industries is in advanced discussions with key global cities, broadcasters and sponsors to launch the inaugural race in early 2020. Gravity industries is planning to bring the UK leg of the international Race Series to London as part of its annual racing calendar.

Richard Browning, Founder and Chief Test Pilot of Gravity Industries commented: “London is a thriving centre for innovation and technology and was the natural place to host our first live UK Race Series demonstration. Gravity Industries was founded to challenge perceived boundaries in human aviation and to inspire others to dare to ask “What if? We see London Tech Week as a fantastic opportunity to do exactly that, showcase the new sport and let our technology inspire younger people into careers in engineering and STEM subjects.

Carolyn Dawson, Managing Director of London Tech Week added: “London Tech Week is all about showcasing the very best innovations from across the world and we’re delighted to offer festival delegates the opportunity to watch this first of its kind Jet Suit race. London is a great place for testing out new ideas and technologies and with over 200 events at this year’s festival, visitors will be able to interact and learn about some of the most exciting companies and innovations being created in our city.”

Earlier this year, Gravity Industries secured the world’s first official Jet Suit patent for its multi-gas turbine engine Jet Suit. The Jet Suit is a wearable flight system with turbine engines mounted to the wearer's arms and back. The five gas turbines that make up the Jet Suit produce over 1000bhp and are not dissimilar to those found on a jet fighter but the thrust to weight ratio of 1.3 is even more than virtually all combat aircraft. The suit can be purchased at Selfridges for £340,000.

The technology has broken multiple Guinness World Records, with test pilot Dr Angelo Grubisic breaking the Jet Suit speed record by flying at 74kph at the 2018 Bournemouth Air Festival. Founder and Chief Test Pilot, Richard Browning has since been able to reach 90kph and travel two kilometres but safety is paramount to the advancement of the technology – the reality is the Jet Suit could go much faster and higher.

Prior to the flight demonstration, Richard Browning spoke on the headline stage at London Tech Week’s largest event, TECHXLR8, hosted at London ExCeL. In his keynote address he discussed his personal journey, failing to succeed, the future of the technology and revealed more details behind the launch of the International Race Series.