Wingsuit Duo Flies Into Plane In Flight | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.14.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.15.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.16.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.17.24

Thu, Nov 30, 2017

Wingsuit Duo Flies Into Plane In Flight

Had Jumped From The Summit Of The Jungfrau In The Swiss Alps

It took more than 100 test flights and a first attempt that had to be abandoned, but the Soul Flyers finally achieved the seemingly impossible. In one of the most spectacular ways to ever catch a flight, Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet succeeded in flying into the open door of a small light aircraft in mid-air after freefalling from the summit of the Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps.

The French duo have already wowed millions around the world with their outlandish Soul Flyers wingsuit stunts over Mont Blanc and the Dolomites. This time around, they went one better by pulling off a breathtaking project in honour of revolutionary wingsuit flyer Patrick de Gayardon.

The pair spent several months practising for the iconic stunt by completing more than 100 test flights at Empuriabrava in Spain before they headed to the Swiss Alps. Despite several weather postponements and a failed first run, they eventually commenced by B.A.S.E jumping from summit of the 2.5-mile-high mountain.

Instead of carrying out their usual array of tricks in the air, this time they were tasked with entering the back door of the moving aircraft – with 13,000 feet of vertical freefall and 2 minutes 45 seconds to complete the daring stunt.

The Pilatus Porter light aircraft was expertly flown by experienced pilot Philippe Bouvier and navigated by project coordinator Yves “Jetman” Rossy. Both wingsuit flyers managed to freefall down to meet the plane in time, with Reffet gliding smoothly into the cabin closely followed by Fugen.

"The conditions were perfect and we were well prepared, but it was still an incredibly difficult challenge," said the 33-year-old Reffet. “It was very complicated for us as we tried a first time but we messed up a bit and that sucks so much energy out of you. Going up to 4,000 meters, it physically costs a lot. Once I got in, I only thought about one thing, my buddy behind.”

“Right now our thoughts go to Patrick (de Gayardon) who was the first to re-enter a plane," said Fugen. "We wanted to do it differently by jumping from a mountain. It is a huge achievement.”

(Image provided by the Red Bull Content Pool)

FMI: www.redbull.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.16.24): Instrument Runway

Instrument Runway A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.16.24)

Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We s>[...]

Airborne 05.15.24: Ghost Sq MidAir, B-2 Junked, Dream Chaser Readies

Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooki>[...]

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.16.24: PRA Runway, Wag-Aero Sold, Young Eagles

Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC