Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann has just soared into the record books with a groundbreaking flight that redefines the limits of human aerial adventure.
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, Salzmann took a leap of faith from a snow-covered ledge atop Switzerland’s Jungfrau mountain, a dizzying 13,330 feet (4,063 meters) above the ground. Equipped with a revolutionary wingsuit foil, he reached a breathtaking speed of 124 mph (200 kph) shortly after takeoff. For almost six minutes, Salzmann defied gravity, soaring without any engine propulsion and covering an incredible distance of 7.77 miles (12.5 kilometers) before deploying his parachute for a safe landing between Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken.
Salzmann’s incredible feat shattered existing world records:
- Longest BASE Flight Time: A mind-blowing 5 minutes and 56 seconds, staying aloft longer than any BASE jump in history.
- Longest BASE Flight Distance: A jaw-dropping 7.77 miles (12.5 kilometers), covering more ground than ever before in a single wingsuit BASE jump.
- Biggest BASE Jump (Altitude Difference): An astounding 11,161 feet (3,402 meters) from the exit point to the landing zone, setting a new benchmark for the sheer vertical scale of a BASE jump.
This record-shattering flight was years in the making. Salzmann collaborated with renowned Austrian wingsuit designer Andreas Podlipnik for over three years, meticulously testing six prototypes to perfect the advanced wingsuit foil.
Pushing the Limits of Glide: Podlipnik explained, “With a normal wingsuit, we achieve a good glide ratio of 2.6 to 2.8, maximum 3 – meaning for every kilometer (0.62 miles) down, you travel 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) forward. With the foil, we can almost double that efficiency, gliding flatter and even further, covering more distance from the same starting point.”
F1 Technology Takes Flight: Red Bull Advanced Technologies, known for their expertise in aerodynamics and Formula 1 racing, played a key role in optimizing the foil’s design. Their insights helped refine crucial performance factors, including wing configuration, foil profile, geometry, size, and its ideal distance from the body.
Lightweight Powerhouse: The final wingsuit foil prototype weighs a mere 12 pounds (5.45 kg). Attached to the torso, it’s incredibly light and portable, allowing for easy hikes to jump-off points while providing significant aerodynamic lift during flight to dramatically improve the glide ratio.
