Make:

Rocketbelt convention! Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, New York on August 11-12 2007 -

Join the fun and excitement as Rocketbelt test-pilots, builders, and enthusiasts from around the world gather for the First International Rocketbelt Convention “Rocket Forward into the Future” at the Thunder Of Niagara Airshow, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, New York on August 11-12 2007, 09:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Original Bell Aerosystems Rocketbelt Pilots Harold Graham and William Suitor will recount their humorous and harrowing tales of the early 1960s when they traveled the globe, demonstrating the world’s first personal propulsion system, invented by Bell Rocket Engineer Wendell F. Moore. In the spring of 1963, Rocketbelt Pilots Robert F. Courter, Jr. and Peter L. Kedzierski flew before a million spectators at the International Aviation and Space Exposition in Paris, where they were hailed as “The Bird Men.” Current day rocketbelt builders will tell how to build your own rocketbelt, and display their own creations. There will be a rocketbelt static test demonstration, and on Saturday and Sunday morning, GoFast! Rocketman Eric Scott will open the Airshow with actual JETPACK flight demonstrations.

“The convention will be a unique, one of a kind, never seen before event,” said convention co-organizer, Peter Gijsberts of Nuenen, the Netherlands and head of the Airwalker Society, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Rocketbelt. Also participating in this historic meeting will be former Bell Aerospace chief test pilot John Spencer, and “The Rocketman since 1951” Ky Michaelson. Gerard Martowlis, Jeremy McCrane, Juan Manuel Lozano and Mark Wells will show their rocketbelt projects, and give lectures. Andrew Filo will demonstrate his rocketbelt simulator.

Kathleen Lennon Clough of Cambridge, Maryland, and North Topsail Island, North Carolina, co-organizer and coordinator in the US, is the daughter of Tom Lennon, who recorded the Rocketbelt test flights and demonstrations as Bell Aerosystems’ senior photographer and cinematographer. Lennon also had a turn at flying the rocketbelt in its early testing phase, and was the first to fly it with stability. “ If you’ve never seen a rocketbelt fly, this is your chance!” said Clough. “Bring your ear plugs! This is the second time that the men who developed and flew the original Bell Rocketbelt will meet the next generation of Rocketbelt builders and pilots, and we will have present day versions of rocketbelts, and a rocketchair, on display, alongside those of the past,” continued Clough. “We are hoping families of former Bell employees will once again join us to renew old friendships.

Admission to the Airshow is free.

This year, like last year, we teamed up with the Niagara Aerospace Museum, who provided us original rocketbelts and artifacts.