GRAND CANYON, AZ - "Mad" Mike Hughes, an aspiring, amateur daredevil, plans to jump his home-made rocket ship over the Grand Canyon on Labor Day, September 5, 2011. The stunt will accomplish what Evil Knievel failed to do during his attempted jump of the Grand Canyon in 1974. Since 2007, Mike has been building the X-2 SkyLimo, a "super-heated, steam-powered" one-passenger rocket in the backyard of his Redlands, California home.

"I've been working on the SkyLimo for quite a while and now I'm happy to report that all system are go!" says Mike. "The world has waited 36 years to see someone complete this jump and I'm gonna make it happen. There's been numerous technical, financial and governmental obstacles placed in my way, but we've got past each and every one. It's time to get to the launch pad and blast-off on this JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME!"

Mike hand-built the rocket and received guidance from an impressive group of rocket engineers, including a consultation by Bob Truax who was the original designer of Evil Kneivel's famous X-2 SkyCycle. "There is no doubt, technically, that this rocket will make the jump," says Mike. "The only question is whether I'll be able to hang on and what type of condition I'll be in on the other side of that canyon!"