American Luke Aikins leapt into the void at 25,000 feet on Saturday (July 30) with no parachute or wingsuit, becoming the first skydiver to land safely on the ground in a net.
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During the 2-minute fall, he maneuvered himself and perfectly hit a giant 100-by-100-foot net set up at the Big Sky movie ranch in California’s Simi Valley.
Back on the ground, with his wife and family, he seemed stunned at his own bit of history-making.
“Everyone is calling this my ‘coming-out jump, ‘ which is ironic considering I’ve been skydiving since the age of 16”, he said in a press release prior to the jump, according to NPR.
Aikins was able to alter his course with just the slightest adjustments of his hands, said Talley, who added that experienced skydivers have “incredible control” over where they land.
According to NPR, third-generation skydiver Luke Aikins successfully completed his “Heaven Sent” stunt after plummeting to the Earth from 25,000 feet.
“I’m nearly levitating, it’s incredible”, said the father-of-one, “The thing that just happened”. A couple of weeks later, he said he would do it.
After falling through 25,000 feet through the air at a speed of 125 miles per hour, Aikens flipped on his back at the last moment and landed on the 100 ft by100 ft net flawlessly.
The stunt had 18 months of preparation, and the Screen Actors Guild, who was looking after the project, initially insisted that Aikins wear a parachute as a precaution. Aikins left the plane without the chute.
“I’m going all the way to the net, no question about it”, he said from the plane.
He made his way down before being isolated as the other skydivers opened their chutes. He’s been racking them up at several hundred a year ever since.
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The Texan skydiver can only rely on the lights that were set along the net as a guide, and he safely landed on his back to the jubilation of his family and the watching crowd. His business Para Tactics provides skydiving training to Navy Seals and other members of elite fighting forces.
