No parachute, no problem as Denver man flies over chasm

Publish Date: 11/25/2008 \http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=20025



No parachute, no problem as Denver man flies over chasm


By Debbie Bell
Cañon City Daily Record

CAÑONCITY — As a young boy, Eric Scott used to dream of flying — but it was never like this.
Scott, 48, soared across the Royal Gorge chasm Monday afternoon strapped to nothing but a jet pack. He made the record-setting trip — 1,500 feet across and 1,053 feet up — in 21 seconds, leaving him 12 seconds of hydrogen-peroxide fuel to spare.

“I had no idea how fast I could get here,” said a jubilant Scott, as he celebrated with his Go Fast crew surrounded by dozens of journalists. “I just found out.”

He averaged 75 mph through the short journey, as spectators lined the bridge to watch.

The Denver daredevil said he thought he knew his $200,000 jet pack’s capabilities before the flight, and was thrilled to find out he was right. He was forced to readjust his flight pattern midflight — talk about a quick adjustment — because of light winds.

“The wind had blown me off course just a little bit,” Scott said after the flight, his jet pack still steaming on his back. “I was getting closer and thought, ‘I’ve got to get to the landing area or at least a safe area.’”

Maneuvering just a bit to the left, Scott veered away from the bridge for a safe landing at his original touchdown site, Juniper Junction at the south rim of the gorge.

Scott said he closed his eyes and walked through the flight in his head several times before beginning his attempt just next to the bridge on the north face.


“The more times I looked, the better it was,” he said. “You have to get all of your stuff done in the front of your mind first.”

Believing his jet pack would make it safely across the chasm, Scott left behind parachutes, cables and safety nets.

“If I run out of fuel, I’m 911-ing God,” Scott said. “It’s fine to let people think I’m crazy, but this is the biggest adrenaline rush ever. This is the spice of my life and keeps me young.”

Scott was met on landing by one particularly ecstatic young man: his 20-year-old son, Jarrod Scott of Denver.

“I’m still shaking, I’m so excited,” Jarrod said after his father landed safely. “This is awesome. Once he got here it was pure, unadulterated joy. I was counting and got to 19. I knew he would make it, and I started screaming as loud as I could.”

The jet pack, created by Jet P.I. LLC, has taken Scott and his team about a year and a half to tweak to perfection. He recently returned from Mexico City, where he took eight test flights.

“Since September, I’ve taken probably 20 flights,” said Scott, who is a trained pilot and not a stuntman. “Don’t try this at home.”

Scott said he would spend the rest of the day sitting back, soaking up his victory and pondering its meaning. Unsure of what his next record-setting attempt may be, Scott knew what his immediate future held.

“Champagne,” he said with a smile, just before his crew cracked open bottles of bubbly and sprayed the crowd.

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