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It seems as though Iron Man fans can rejoice. The flight suit that transforms Tony Stark into a superhero is now a reality. Called Daedalus Mark 1, after the mythical Greek craftsman most famous for the feather wings he and his son Icarus, used to escape from the kingdom of Crete, it is the brainchild of British inventor Richard Browning.

The 99-pound exoskeleton is fitted with six small jet engines which together provide enough thrust for a vertical takeoff. Once airborne, the flight can be controlled using small, precise body movements. Browning, who likens the process to riding a bike, says while it takes a little practice to propel the jet-powered limbs, it is not difficult. The animators who did all that in CGI obviously did some pretty big thinking. It was kind of a funny moment when we realised we should have just watched the film and done that homework." The helmet, which accompanies the flight suit, protects the user and provides real-time fuel level and safety performance statistics. It is also Wi-Fi enabled to allow for ground monitoring.

Daedalus Mark 1 first came to the world's attention in November 2017, after Browning set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest speed in a body-controlled jet engine power suit for his 32- miles-per-hour flight. The inventor, who has since demonstrated the suit at 45 events across 16 countries, says that while it is theoretically capable of flying up to 280 miles per hour and reaching an altitude of 12,000 feet, however, he has yet to test that. In an interview with Redbull.com, Browning said, "The suit can fly in most locations. Despite being capable of flying at several hundred miles per hour, and at thousands of feet, normal operation sees the wearer flying at no more than a couple of meters."

Given the high fuel consumption rate of about a gallon a minute, it is not surprising to hear that the real-life Iron Man can currently stay airborne for a maximum of only 9 minutes. Browning hopes to extend the flight time in future versions by improving the fuel efficiency of the jet engines and adding wings!

Despite the limitations, Daedalus Mark 1 and its inventor have gained tremendous popularity worldwide. The former oil trader and ultra-marathon runner now spends his days giving corporate keynote speeches, demonstrating his jet suit, and training potential buyers to fly. Among his biggest fans is Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, who purportedly began learning how to use the suit in early August. Browning is also really excited by possibly working in concert with the British military and is in talks with the James Bond and Mission Impossible movies' stunt coordinators for possible use of the suit in future films.