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Published -
- August 26, 2019
- 10:45 am
On July 30 2016, Skydiver Luke Aikins, made history, when he jumped from 25,000 feet out of an airplane without a parachute.
He landing safely in a net set up in the desert of Simi Valley, California, setting a world record.
Luke, who was 42 at the time of the jump, is a third generation skydiver, who has been skydiving since the age of 16 and has deployed a parachute more 18,000 times over the course of his skydiving and BASE jumping career.
Luke is also is a safety and training adviser for the United States Parachute Association, where he provides advanced skydiving training, to elite military special forces.
After jumping out of the Cessna airplane at 25,000 feet, Luke quickly reached a terminal velocity of 120 miles per hour.
Using his GPS, and only the air currents around him, he lined up his fall to the center of a specialized 100-by-100-foot net, which was designed to stop Luke’s fall, as softly as if you were to stand on a trampoline, and merely drop onto your back.
The total time from jumping from the plane to hitting the net, took about 2 minutes. But when you are falling from 25,000 feet into a small net you can’t even see from 25,000 feet, I bet it felt like a life-time.
What safety measures did Luke Aikins take to ensure his success in the net jump?
On July 30th, 2016, skydiver Luke Aikins made history by becoming the first person to jump 25,000 feet without a parachute and land safely in a net. The stunt, which took place in California’s Mojave Desert, was broadcast live on Fox, captivating audiences around the world.
Aikins, who has over 18,000 jumps under his belt and is a veteran of the Red Bull Air Force, spent two years preparing for the stunt. He worked with a team of experts to design a 100-by-100-foot net that would catch him as he fell at speeds up to 120 miles per hour.
To ensure his safety, Aikins also wore a GPS tracking system and carried an oxygen mask in case he needed to bail out of the jump at the last minute. He even tested the jump wearing a parachute, then removed it to make the historic final leap.
As the world watched in awe, Aikins leapt from a plane at 25,000 feet, freefalling for two minutes before landing smoothly in the net, receiving cheers and hugs from his family and team members.
The jump was not only a spectacle but also a scientific feat. It proved the possibility of using nets as a safety measure for future high-altitude skydiving stunts and could revolutionize the way extreme stunts are executed.
Aikins, who is a third-generation skydiver, said he was proud to make history and inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. He also thanked his family, friends, and team members, saying it was a team effort to make the stunt a success.
The world-first stunt was an incredible demonstration of human courage, skill, and innovation. It showcased the power of determination and the potential for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in extreme sports. Aikins’ historic jump will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of daredevils to dream big and achieve the impossible.
