UK Police Use Jet-Powered Flight Suit to Capture Armed Man in Simulated Test.
Richard Browning impersonates a police officer using a flight suit to intercept a criminal. (Video: Gravity).
At a checkpoint, police discovered a man carrying a gun. When stopped, the man immediately fled. While his colleagues pursued the suspect, one officer activated his jet-powered flight suit, soaring above and accelerating past him to neutralize the threat instantly. This was a recent test with the flight suit developed by UK police.
The individual portraying the police officer was actually Richard Browning, the founder and chief test pilot of Gravity Industries, a company that manufactures jet suits for human flight. Established in 2017, Gravity Industries created a flight suit equipped with jet engines located on the user’s arms.
The company also offers training programs for flying with the suit. Gravity Industries has collaborated with over 50 clients in the UK and the US, including rescue services and military forces. Browning even demonstrated the suit to the Royal Navy in May 2021.
This flight suit is somewhat noisy.
The test conducted on August 14 took place at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down near Salisbury, UK, with the participation of government officials and police. After the test, Martin Hewitt, Chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, remarked that the technology holds significant potential and expressed interest in applying the flight suit to enhance police operations, enabling them to work better and faster while ensuring the safety of themselves and the public.
However, Hewitt also noted that the flight suit is quite noisy. With five turbines capable of reaching speeds of 120,000 RPM, the system generates considerable noise. The suit has a maximum speed of 88 km/h. Weighing less than 27 kg, this customized personal vehicle uses both jet fuel and diesel. The only drawback of the suit is its limited flight time of 5 to 10 minutes.
