At 2:08, you can see a small oval device looking very much like a computer mouse in the pilot’s left hand. At 3:13 we get a better and very clear look at this wireless control(s). It appears that he controls the vectored thrust and/or throttle with the button clearly seen in his left hand at 3:13 just a fraction of a second prior to chute deployment. To me, this explains how he can wave with one hand and yet turn at will both climbing and descending when over the water just prior to his landing on the pier before his second take-off and flight over the city. Sort of a taxi and pre-take off check prior to his actual flight going from take off hover from the pier transitioning to full flight just like a Harrier or F-35. When in full flight mode, he is controlling his attitude with his body and the thrust vectoring I am sure. That probably took a lot of practice to coordinate the two. Outstanding effort engineering and flight wise.
At this point seems pretty well thought out and reasonably reliable. I am sure that mouse was sewn or Velcro’d very securely to his left hand/glove. Fly by wire and body (FBWAB) technology including what Paul described as 3D gyro technology common in drones and many RC planes. Next step is having enough on board fuel to fly longer than a minute or so.
What is as amazing as the feat itself is the calm demeanor of the pilot prior to flight and his ease in hover, chosen direction and transition to full bogie, way cool flight. That tells me this was very well thought out, engineered and safely practiced before this breath taking aviation first.
Contrast this with other now deceased guy’s effort, emulating Evil Knievel’s attempt to launch himself over the Snake River decades ago, in a steam powered rocket to “prove” a flat earth. I wonder who will get the most views from the globe’s cell phone centered, virtual reality inhabitants?