007 jetpack stunt pilot to attend book signing in Niagara Falls

The man dubbed the greatest rocket belt pilot in the world will be at Niagara Falls Public Library Feb. 18. During the free event at the library's Victoria Ave. branch, Bill Suitor will sign copies of his book, Rocketbelt Pilot's Manual, and talk about the rocket belt and his more than 1,000 flights at places around the world, reports Well & Tribune.

Back in 1965, Suitor flew the rocket belt as a James Bond stunt double in the film Thunderball. In that movie, actor Sean Connery as Bond famously said, "No well-dressed man should be without one," as he tossed the device into the trunk of his Aston Martin.

Suitor also used the rocket propulsion machine in several other movies and shows, such as Lost in Space, Gilligan's Island, during the half-time at Super Bowl games and the opening ceremonies to the 1984 Olympics.

"There's never, ever a time you're not at least … apprehensive," Suitor said, when asked how nerve-racking it is to be thrust in the air with a rocket pack attached to your body.

"Ignorance is bliss. Sometimes, it's better not to know a lot of the things that can go wrong," he laughed.

The Youngstown, N.Y., resident said he gets a "bizzilion" questions from people, especially about his appearance in Thunderball.

"I didn't know anything about it at the time," Suitor said of the movie. "It was just another job to do. Now, it's regarded as one of the best films in the James Bond series."

Suitor said he's working on another book that he said will focus more on the historical aspect of the rocket belt and the "human side of it," rather than just the nuts and bolts.

Brian Pihack, president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Niagara Centre, said association members are excited to meet Suitor.

"We look forward to talking to him and listening to what he has to say," said Pihack. "I think it will be really neat. It's going to be a different spin on astronomy."

Rocketbelt Pilot's Manual: A Guide by the Bell Test Pilot, explains in simple terms a step-by-step account of how a rocket belt works and why it was built. It covers everything from servicing and fueling to actually learning how to fly one.

The book includes photos of each component of the machine and explains how they relate to one another.

"It's like balancing on a big beach ball in a swimming pool," Suitor said. "Then, it becomes like riding a bicycle. Once you get the hang of it, you're all set.

"You can never get cavalier about it, though. It's a deadly serious business … but I'm still here to talk about it and that's a testament to the people who built and designed the thing."

His visit Feb. 18 is open to the public starting at 7:30 p.m., and is sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Niagara Centre.

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