Uploaded February 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Gravity founder Richard Browning has set the Guinness World Record for "fastest speed in a body controlled, jet engine powered suit"
Richard Browning is an English inventor, entrepreneur and speaker. He founded Gravity Industries Ltd in March 2017, the company behind the "Daedalus Mark 1", a flight suit that uses six miniature jet engines to achieve vertical flight. The kerosene engines are rated at 22kg of thrust each. Browning uses his arms to control the direction and speed of the flight, while a display inside the helmet gives updates on fuel consumption and other usage data. He achieved a speed of 32.02 miles per hour (51.53 km/h) with the suit during a Guinness World Records attempt for ‘Fastest speed in a body controlled jet engine powered suit’.
The record attempt took place over a lake at Lagoona Park, in Reading, UK. Browning fired up the suit and took three attempts, with the speed being maintained over a minimum distance of 100 meters. Browning had to beat the mark of 30 mph (48 km/h) to set the record, which he did on the third run, clocking 32.02 mph (51.5 km/h) before tumbling into the water.
Browning has been dubbed the 'real-life Iron Man' by media outlets around the world
Mr Browning said: ‘I am delighted we have set the record, and I have no doubt that this is just the beginning'
Browning is an ultra-marathon runner and former Royal Marine Reservist. He cycles to work and uses an exercise regime to drop his body weight from 75 to 72kg. He was inspired by his father, an aeronautical engineer and inventor, who killed himself when Browning was a teenager.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Browning said '[his] approach to flight was [to] augment the human mind and body, because they are amazing machines, so I just bolted on what was missing - thrust."
Browning has said the Daedalus Mk. 1 could "reach up to speeds of 200 mph" and "can fly for 10 consecutive minutes at a few thousand feet", but that he keeps the speed and altitude low for safety reasons at present. He repeated this in an interview with Sky News' tech programme 'Swipe' before a live flight demonstration.
Browning's eight-year-old son named the suit.
Gravity has gone from a audacious dream to a patent pending technology powering the worlds first human propulsion flight, all in less than 12 months.
Their vision is to build an entirely new generation of human flight systems for commercial and entertainment applications.
the team
Founded by Richard Browning in March 2017, Gravity Industries is a British technology start-up with innovation, endeavor and inspiration at its core.
Their mission is to build an inspirational technology company by re-imagining the future of human flight and pioneering aeronautical innovation.
Gravity founder Richard Browning has set the Guinness World Record for "fastest speed in a body controlled, jet engine powered suit"
Richard Browning is an English inventor, entrepreneur and speaker. He founded Gravity Industries Ltd in March 2017, the company behind the "Daedalus Mark 1", a flight suit that uses six miniature jet engines to achieve vertical flight. The kerosene engines are rated at 22kg of thrust each. Browning uses his arms to control the direction and speed of the flight, while a display inside the helmet gives updates on fuel consumption and other usage data. He achieved a speed of 32.02 miles per hour (51.53 km/h) with the suit during a Guinness World Records attempt for ‘Fastest speed in a body controlled jet engine powered suit’.
The record attempt took place over a lake at Lagoona Park, in Reading, UK. Browning fired up the suit and took three attempts, with the speed being maintained over a minimum distance of 100 meters. Browning had to beat the mark of 30 mph (48 km/h) to set the record, which he did on the third run, clocking 32.02 mph (51.5 km/h) before tumbling into the water.
Browning has been dubbed the 'real-life Iron Man' by media outlets around the world
Mr Browning said: ‘I am delighted we have set the record, and I have no doubt that this is just the beginning'
Browning is an ultra-marathon runner and former Royal Marine Reservist. He cycles to work and uses an exercise regime to drop his body weight from 75 to 72kg. He was inspired by his father, an aeronautical engineer and inventor, who killed himself when Browning was a teenager.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Browning said '[his] approach to flight was [to] augment the human mind and body, because they are amazing machines, so I just bolted on what was missing - thrust."
Browning has said the Daedalus Mk. 1 could "reach up to speeds of 200 mph" and "can fly for 10 consecutive minutes at a few thousand feet", but that he keeps the speed and altitude low for safety reasons at present. He repeated this in an interview with Sky News' tech programme 'Swipe' before a live flight demonstration.
Browning's eight-year-old son named the suit.
Gravity has gone from a audacious dream to a patent pending technology powering the worlds first human propulsion flight, all in less than 12 months.
Their vision is to build an entirely new generation of human flight systems for commercial and entertainment applications.
the team
Founded by Richard Browning in March 2017, Gravity Industries is a British technology start-up with innovation, endeavor and inspiration at its core.
Their mission is to build an inspirational technology company by re-imagining the future of human flight and pioneering aeronautical innovation.
