Snake River Canyon was one stunt that eluded Evel Knievel, and as a child, stuntman Eddie Braun dreamed of completing it as a tribute to the legendary daredevil.
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It launched off a steep ramp on the edge of the canyon rim just before 4 p.m.as hundreds of onlookers watched. The rocket reached an estimated 400 miles per hour (644 kph) before its parachute deployed, allowing Braun and the ship to land safely in fields on the other side of the 1,400 foot-wide (427 meters-wide) canyon.
The parachute deployed prematurely and caused Evel to land at the bottom of the canyon where he only sustained minor injuries.
Video of the crossing follows the rocket to its apex, but the sun makes it hard to track the flight until the craft is well across the canyon with the parachute deployed for the landing.
“What better way to pay homage to the guy who inspired me and led me to become everything that I am professionally?”
He also said he didn’t care if people thought him insane.
Because Knievel failed to cross the Snake River Canyon, the feat often gets overshadowed by the sideshow that took place around the jump.
Stuntman Eddie Braun jumps the Snake River Canyon in the “Evel Spirit” rocket Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, in Twin Falls, Idaho. Continuing with “I’m simply finishing out his dream”.
Knievel also allegedly left town without paying certain business debts.
The mystique of Knievel’s failed stunt has lived on, with would-be daredevils showing up every decade or so to propose similar jumps.
This jump mirrored Knievel’s in nearly every way, including the technology.
Braun worked with Scott Truax, whose father designed Knievel’s rocket, to build a replica to propel him across the 1400-foot jump.
Stuntman Eddie Braun gets into the cockpit of the Evel Spirit, a steam powered rocket, surrounded by his team.
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Evel Knievel has been Mr Braun’s idol and inspiration since the day they met in the 1970s.
