Man on jetpack flies around Statue of Liberty

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network

Show Caption Hide Caption Imagine flying a jetpack around the Statue of Liberty An Australian entrepreneur invented a jetpack and decided to fly it around the Statue of Liberty! Rob Smith (@robsmithonline) has all the high-flying details.

A man took a spin across the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty on a jetpack last week.

After a decade of trying to design a lightweight jetpack, Australian entrepreneur David Mayman's dream of becoming a "real life Ironman" came to fruition on Nov.3, according to a statement from his team at JetPack Aviation.

Mayman flew the JB-9 jetpack, which is "powerful enough to fly thousands of feet" above the ground, in a loop around the Statue of Liberty. The New York trip was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Coast Guard, according to the statement.

In the video uploaded to YouTube, Mayman casually flies over the Hudson River.

An aerial shot shows how small Mayman looks against the backdrop of New York City.

Mayman then takes a victory lap around the Statue of Liberty.

Mayman designed the jetpack alongside Hollywood inventor Nelson Tyler. The pair spent millions of dollars and years designing the device, according to the statement.

"It was an incredible experience, one I have been dreaming of since I was a young boy," Mayman said in a statement. "We have just proved that personal flight is a reality, it's here, and we will stay at the forefront of this."

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