Luke Aikins Explained

Luke Aikins
Birth Date:21 November 1973
Birth Place:Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Known For:First person to intentionally skydive and land without a parachute or a wingsuit and survive
Occupation:Skydiver, pilot, stuntman, photographer
Years Active:1985–present
Spouse:Monica Lee Aikins[1]
Children:Logan (son)[2]

Luke Aikins (born November 21, 1973)[3] is an American professional skydiver, BASE jumper, pilot, and aerial photographer. He is the first person to intentionally dive from mid-tropospheric altitude and land safely without a parachute or a wingsuit and the second skydiver to intentionally jump and safely land without using a parachute.[4] [5] [6]

Aikins is affiliated with Red Bull.[7]

Sky diving

Aikins has coached United States Navy SEALs and NASCAR's Brian Vickers, and has advised the military on skydiving techniques.[8] He is also a safety and training advisor for the United States Parachute Association.[9] [10] He is also an aerial photographer and his photos have been published in major magazines and newspapers. He has completed more than 18,000 jumps since he started skydiving at age 12.[11]

In 2012, he helped skydiver Felix Baumgartner jump from a helium balloon in the stratosphere at 120000feet.[12] [13] Aikins also worked on stunts in the film Iron Man 3.[14]

In 2020, he helped David Blaine with his Ascension stunt.

July 2016 jump

On July 30, 2016, Aikins jumped from an aircraft without any parachute or wingsuit at an altitude of 25000feet above Simi Valley, California, watched by a live audience. After about two minutes of free fall he successfully landed in a 100feetby100feetft (byft) net just outside of Simi Valley, California.[15] Aikins reached a terminal velocity of 120mph during the fall.[14] The net was made from Spectra, a high-density polyethylene cord.[16] It had four compressed air cylinders designed to gently slow him down after impact.[16] The first skydiver to intentionally jump and land without using a parachute was Gary Connery in 2012 who wore a wingsuit to aid his landing.[17]

Although several news articles headlines describe Aikins achievement by focusing on the fact that he jumped and went to freefall without parachute, many others have jumped from aircraft without having a parachute when they departed the plane – they were either handed a parachute by a fellow jumper while in freefall or maneuvered to a container carrying a parachute, with first successes dating back to 1965.[18] Others have jumped out of an aircraft and returned to the same or another aircraft without making use of parachute.[19] [20]

Red Bull plane-swap stunt crash

During the highly publicized stunt staged as a Hulu On-Demand special event, he and his cousin Andy Farrington attempted and failed to swap planes mid air, resulting in the total loss of one plane.[21]

Aikins and Farrington had been denied permission to undertake the stunt by the Federal Aviation Administration, and subsequently had their pilot licenses revoked by the FAA.[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dunlap. Tiare. Meet the Husband and Father Who's Skydiving from 25,000 Feet Without a Parachute. People. July 31, 2016. July 26, 2016.
  2. Web site: Skydiver Luke Aikins makes parachute-free jump . July 30, 2016 . CBS News.
  3. Web site: Luke Aikins. Red Bull. July 31, 2016.
  4. News: Rogers . John. Skydiver becomes first person to jump and land without chute, a net was used. July 31, 2016. July 31, 2016. Associated Press. The Washington Post.
  5. News: Skydiver to jump from plane without a parachute on live TV. The Guardian. July 31, 2016.
  6. Web site: Rogers . John . Skydiver becomes first person to jump and land without chute . Herald-Review.com . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160804045347/http://herald-review.com/sports/skydiver-becomes-first-person-to-jump-and-land-without-chute/article_3a6b0f6a-1116-519c-b640-f5bc1621fe46.html . 2016-08-04 . dead . 2022-01-27.
  7. Web site: Pool . Michael Clark . Luke Aikins . Red Bull . 2021-10-26 . 2022-04-27.
  8. Web site: Contracting Profile: Para Tactics LLC Shelton WA. govtribe.com. July 31, 2016.
  9. Web site: Skydiver becomes first person to jump and land without a parachute. July 31, 2016 . Associated Press. Mashable. July 31, 2016.
  10. Web site: Staff. Profile – Luke Aikins D-21189. parachutistonline.com. July 31, 2016. August 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805175710/http://parachutistonline.com/columns/profiles/luke-aikins-d-21189. dead.
  11. News: Astor. Maggie. Skydiver Survives Jump From 25,000 Feet, and Without a Parachute. July 31, 2016. The New York Times. July 30, 2016.
  12. Web site: Luke Aikins. Red Bull Stratos. July 31, 2016.
  13. News: Levine. Aaron. Graham's Luke Aikins prepares for 25,000-foot jump without a parachute. July 31, 2016. KCPQ. July 18, 2016.
  14. Web site: World first: Skydiver plummets 25,000 feet – with no parachute. July 31, 2016 . CNN. August 2, 2016.
  15. Mondelez International. Skydiver Luke Aikins Lands History-Making Jump From 25,000 Feet – With No Parachute or Wing Suit – For "Stride Gum Presents Heaven Sent". July 31, 2016. PR Newswire. July 31, 2016.
  16. Web site: This Man Jumped Out of a Plane With No Parachute. https://web.archive.org/web/20160801085805/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/activities/aerial-sports/skydiver-luke-aikins-freefalls-without-parachute/. dead. August 1, 2016. National Geographic. August 2, 2016.
  17. News: Charlie. Cooper. Gary Connery lands safely after 2,400 ft helicopter jump without parachute. The Independent. May 23, 2012. March 1, 2013.
  18. News: Jumping without a parachute . The Washington Post . 12 October 2018 . August 23, 2013.
  19. Web site: Plane to Plane Exchange . 12 October 2018.
  20. Web site: Wingsuit History . 12 October 2018 . May 13, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200513094844/http://flylikebrick.com/wingsuit-history/ . dead .
  21. Web site: F.A.A. Revokes Pilot Licenses After Midair Plane-Swapping Stunt . The New York Times . 2022-05-12 . 2022-05-13.
  22. Web site: Mendoza . Jordan . Pilots who unsuccessfully attempted first-ever 'plane swap' have licenses revoked by FAA . 2023-11-13 . USA TODAY . en-US.

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