Swiss luxury watch Hublot was a major sponsor of Yves Rossy—nickenamed “Rocket Man,” “Jet Man, ” and “Fusion Man” by the international media—who on Sept. 26 became the first man to fly the English Channel (from Calais, France to Dover, England) using his homemade, single, jet-propelled wing.

The Swiss adventurer’s 35 kilometer (7.8 mile) trip—traveling an average 200 kilometers (120 miles) per hour—took 13 minutes. It re-traced the route of French aviator Louis Blériot, the first person to cross the English Channel in an airplane 99 years ago.

Rossy’s next challenge: to fly over the Grand Canyon in 2009. Hublot has actively supported Rossy, a professional jet pilot, since 2007, when he took time off from his job at SWISS airlines to prepare for the project.

Captions: Pictured are Rossy in flight (note “Hublot” on the wing) and addressing the press after touch-down in Dover.

JCK