Three jetmen have taken to the skies of southern France to join the Patrouille de France aerobatic demonstration team for a "world's first" formation flight. The breathtaking aerial performance was captured on film by Airborne Films and can be seen in the video below.
The Jetman Dubai team's Yves Rossy and Vincent Reffet already have an impressive formation flight feather in their cap, after flying alongside an Emirates Airbus A380 passenger jet in October 2015. Now they've been joined by fellow jet-propelled wing flyer, and local boy, Fred Fugen for a nine minute precision dance in the skies above Saint-Christol in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France for the first flight with the iconic Alphajet team.
The Patrouille de France is said to be the world's oldest aerobatic demonstration team, and its pilots regarded as among the most skilled. This latest precision flying performance required brain-melting concentration from jet pilots and human flyers alike, as the latter trio used only body movements to maintain their position just feet away from the eight Dessault Alpha jets.
"What a fantastic experience for us, as pilots, to be able to fly in formation with these men," said Squadron Leader Christophe Dubois after the performance.
This exceptional example of precision flying, at a reported altitude of 4,000 ft (1,200 m) and flight speed on 140 knots (260 km/h), can be seen in the video below.
Source: Airborne Films