A Somerset man has become one of the first people in the world to fly a jet suit.
Ilminster-based entrepreneur and aviation documentarian Louis Skupien is among fewer than 800 people globally to have piloted a Gravity Industries Jet Suit.
He captured the experience in a new short documentary launching on Wednesday, October 8.
Mr Skupien said: "It wasn’t just about strapping in and flying.
"This was about pushing the limits of human capability – mentally, physically, and emotionally – and proving what’s possible with belief, grit and technology.
"There’s a deep-rooted fear when you hear the deafening roar of the suit.
"My arms were aching.
"But I lifted off… and stayed airborne.
"I was flying.
"And it was real."
Filmed at Gravity Industries HQ near Frome, the documentary celebrates British innovation, human achievement, and the power of storytelling.
The Gravity Jet Suit features seven micro gas turbines, generating 1,300 horsepower and 170kg of thrust.
Fully human-controlled, it relies entirely on the skill and concentration of the pilot.
Mr Skupien said: "Every micro-movement shifts your trajectory.
"It’s like balancing on invisible strings mid-air.
"Coming from a high-performance sports background helped, but I had to unlearn a lot of natural human instincts to fly this machine."
The film documents the full journey, including setbacks, nerves, breakthroughs, and the intense training required to achieve a 14-second sustained hover, a milestone reached by only a handful of people worldwide.
A former professional tennis player, Mr Skupien now runs a personal training business in Ilminster and hosts the TALK4 Podcast, which features more than 160 episodes with astronauts, generals, fighter pilots, and elite performers.
His previous aviation projects have included work with the USAF Thunderbirds, Patriots Jet Team, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, and the British Army Red Devils.
Mr Skupien said: "I’ve flown in fighter jets, helicopters, and even performed aerobatics – but this was different.
"No joystick, no co-pilot.
"Just me and the Jet Suit.
"It was ferocious.
"And I had to master it quickly under pressure."
He now aims to become the youngest and first British civilian to fly supersonic in a classified military jet this winter, with further ambitions to reach the edge of space.
Mr Skupien said: "People joked that I’d joined the Avengers while they were on holiday.
"But I’m no superhero.
"My superpower is creating opportunities – and showing others they can do the same.
"This flight wasn’t just a stunt.
"It was a message: the impossible is possible."
He hopes the film will inspire both mainstream audiences and the next generation of dreamers.
His outreach strategy includes social media, aviation networks, YouTube, podcasts, and school outreach.
Mr Skupien said: "I want a 15-year-old watching YouTube to believe they can fly.
"And I want aerospace leaders to take this seriously.
"The Jet Suit proves that with belief and collaboration, we can break through barriers that once seemed unthinkable."
