Felix Baumgartner

Felix Baumgartner
Felix Baumgartner in April 2013.
Nickname(s)	B.A.S.E. 502 – Fearless Felix
Born	20 April 1969 Salzburg, Austria
Website	felixbaumgartner.com

Felix Baumgartner (German: [ˈfeː.lɪks ˈba͡ʊ̯mˌɡaɐ̯t.nɐ]; born 20 April 1969) is an Austrian skydiver, daredevil and BASE jumper.^[1] He is best known for his participation in the Red Bull Stratos project, in which he jumped to Earth from a helium balloon in the stratosphere on October 14, 2012. Doing so, he set world records for skydiving an estimated 39 km (24 mi), reaching an estimated top speed of 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph), or Mach 1.25, ^{[2][3][4] [5][6][7][8][9][10][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]}. He became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power relative to the surface on his descent.^[12][13] He broke skydiving records for exit altitude, vertical freefall distance without drogue, and vertical speed without drogue. Though he still holds the latter records, the first was broken two years later, when on 24 October 2014, Alan Eustace jumped from 135,890 feet - or, 41.42 km (25.74 mi) with a drogue.^[14][15][16]

Baumgartner is also renowned for the particularly dangerous nature of the stunts he has performed during his career. Baumgartner spent time in the Austrian military where he practiced parachute jumping, including training to land on small target zones.

Biography

Tribute to Felix Baumgartner in Straße der Sieger, Mariahilfer Street, Vienna.

Felix Baumgartner was born first of two boys on 20 April 1969 (with baby brother Gerard), in Salzburg, Austria.^[17] As a child, he dreamed about flying and skydiving.^[18] In 1999 he claimed the world record for the highest parachute jump from a building when he jumped from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[19] On 20 July 2003, Baumgartner became the first person to skydive across the English Channel using a specially made carbon fiber wing.^[1][20] Alban Geissler, who developed the SKYRAY carbon fiber wing with Christoph Aarns, suggested after Baumgartner's jump that the wing he used was a copy of two prototype SKYRAY wings sold to Red Bull (Baumgartner's sponsor) two years earlier.^[21]

Baumgartner also set the world record for the lowest BASE jump ever, when he jumped 29 metres (95 ft) from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.^[22] This jump also stirred controversy among BASE jumpers who pointed out that Baumgartner cited the height of the statue as the height of the jump even though he landed on a slope below the statue's feet, and that other BASE jumpers had previously jumped from the statue but avoided publicity.^[23]

He became the first person to BASE jump from the completed Millau Viaduct in France on 27 June 2004^[24] and the first person to skydive onto, then BASE jump from, the Turning Torso building in Malmö, Sweden, on 18 August 2006.^[25] On 12 December 2007 he became the first person to jump from the 91st floor observation deck of the then-tallest completed building in the world, Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan.^[26]

Red Bull Stratos

At 12:08 MDT and at an altitude of 39 kilometres (24 mi), Baumgartner jumped from the capsule.

In January 2010, it was reported that Baumgartner was working with a team of scientists and sponsor Red Bull to attempt the highest sky-dive on record.^[27]

Test jumps

On 15 March 2012, Baumgartner completed the first of 2 test jumps from 21,818 metres (71,581 ft). During the jump, he spent approximately 3 minutes and 43 seconds in free fall, reaching speeds of more than 580 km/h (360 mph),^[28] before opening his parachute. In total, the jump lasted approximately eight minutes and eight seconds and Baumgartner became the third person to safely parachute from a height of over 21.7 km (13.5 mi).^[29][30]

On 25 July 2012, Baumgartner completed the second of two planned test jumps from 29,460 metres (96,640 ft). It took Baumgartner about 90 minutes to reach the target altitude and his free fall was estimated to have lasted three minutes and 48 seconds before his parachutes were deployed.^[31]

Main jump

The launch was originally scheduled for 9 October 2012 but was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Launch was rescheduled and the mission instead took place on 14 October 2012 when Baumgartner landed in eastern New Mexico after jumping from a world-record (that record was broken by Alan Eustace in 2014), 38,969.3 meters (127,852 feet)^[12][32][33] and falling a record distance of 36,402.6 meters.^[34] Baumgartner also set the record for fastest speed of free fall at 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph),^[2][12][5] making him the first human to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle.^[35][36] Baumgartner was in free fall for 4 minutes and 19 seconds, 17 seconds short of mentor Joseph Kittinger's 1960 jump.^[35]

Training for the jump

Baumgartner initially struggled with claustrophobia after spending time in the pressurized suit required for the jump, but overcame it with help from a sports psychologist and other specialists.^[37][38][39]

Audi Motorsport

In 2014, Baumgartner decided to join Audi Motorsport to drive an Audi R8 LMS for the 2014 24 Hours of Nurburgring after racing Volkswagen Polos in 2013. He underwent another intense physical and driver training session to prepare him for the race.^[40] He helped the team to a 9th place overall finish.^[41]

Personal life

In October 2012, when Baumgartner was asked in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung whether a political career was an option for his future life, he stated that the "example of Arnold Schwarzenegger" showed, that "you can't move anything in a democracy" and that he would opt for a "moderate dictatorship [...] led by experienced personalities coming from the private (sector of the) economy". He finally stated he "didn't want to get involved in politics."^[42][43][44]

On 6 November 2012 Baumgartner was convicted of battery and was fined €1500 after punching a Greek truck driver in the face.^[45][46][47]

After Austrian authorities refused to grant sports tax breaks to Baumgartner, he moved to Arbon, Switzerland, whereupon his house in Salzburg and his helicopter were seized.^[48]

Baumgartner dated Playboy German playmate of the century Gitta Saxx. Later he was engaged to Nicole Öttl, a model and former beauty queen (Miss Lower Austria 2006). They broke up in 2013.^[48]

His mother is named Eva, and he has one brother, Gerard Baumgartner.^{[44][49][nb 1][50][51]}

Awards and accolades

• In 2012 he won the Bambi award in the category of "Millennium".^[52]
• In December 2012, Felix was named one of "The Men of the Year 2012" by Top Gear magazine.^[53]
• He was named Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year (12 March 2013).^[54]
• He received the Mankind Award at The 2013 Spike Guys' Choice Awards.
• Flying magazine ranked him number 46 on their 2013 list of the "51 Heroes of Aviation"; he is the youngest-ranked living person on the list.^[55]

See also

• Alan Eustace — surpassed Baumgartner's record of highest jump on 24 October 2014 from 135,890 feet (41,420 m).^[14]
• Eugene Andreyev — the former record holder for the longest-distance free fall jump.
• Joseph Kittinger — set records for highest balloon ascent and highest parachute jump; adviser and capsule communicator to Felix Baumgartner.
• Michel Fournier — who has been working on a 25-mile (40 km) jump for several years.
• Nick Piantanida — flew highest balloon flight prior to Baumgartner: 123,500-foot (37,600 m) in 1966.
• Project Manhigh — pre-NASA military project that took men in balloons to the middle layers of Earth's stratosphere. Participants set altitude and parachute jump records.
• Pyotr Dolgov — died in 1962 carrying out a high altitude jump.
• Steve Truglia — English stuntman who was planning a similar jump.

Notes

1. The FAI ratified the 3 world records claimed by Austrian parachutist Felix Baumgartner for Maximum Vertical Speed without drogue (#16669) 1,357.6 kilometres per hour (843.6 mph), Exit Altitude (#16670) 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft), and Vertical Distance of Freefall (#16671) 36,402.6 metres (119,431 ft).^[5]
2. The 14 October 2012 flight did not break the FAI Absolute Altitude (#2325) record for balloon flight set in 1961 by Malcolm Ross, which requires the balloonist to descend with the balloon.^[11]

References

1. Abrams, Michael (2006). Birdmen, Batmen, and Skyflyers: Wingsuits and the Pioneers Who Flew in Them, Fell in Them, and Perfected Them. New York: Harmony Books. pp. 247–251. ISBN 978-1-4000-5491-6.
2. "Baumgartner's Records Ratified by FAI !" Record Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, October 14, 2012. Accessed: 18 November 2013.
3. "Governing body 'FAI' officially confirms Stratos world records". Red Bull Stratos. Retrieved 10 May 2013. Maximum Vertical Speed (without drogue) 1,357.6 km/h (equivalent to 843.6 mph / Mach 1.25)
4. Paur, Jason (15 October 2013). "Red Bull Releases Incredible POV Video of 128,000-Foot Stratos Jump". Wired. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
5. The International Air Sports Federation (FAI). "Parachuting World Records". Retrieved 2015-03-20.
6. Tierney, John (14 October 2012). "Daredevil Prepares to Jump Nearly 25 Miles". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
7. "Official statement on closing of legal case" (Press release). Red Bull Stratos. 30 June 2011.
8. Gray, Richard (5 February 2012). "Sky diver to break sound barrier with jump from edge of space". The Daily Telegraph (London).
9. Henderson, Barney; Irvine, Chris (9 October 2012). "Skydiver Felix Baumgartner attempts to break sound barrier: latest". Telegraph (London). Retrieved 9 October 2012.
10. "Baumgartner's Records Ratified by FAI". The World Air Sports Federation (FAI). 22 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
11. The International Air Sports Federation (FAI). "Ballooning World Records". Retrieved 2015-03-20.
12. "Skydiver fell faster than thought, top speed verified at 844 mph _ or Mach 1.25". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
13. Amos, Jonathan (14 October 2012). "Skydiver Felix Baumgartner lands highest ever jump". BBC. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
14. Markoff, John (October 24, 2014). "Parachutist's Record-Breaking Fall: 26 Miles, 15 Minutes". New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
15. "Baumgartner's Records Ratified by FAI!". FAI. February 22, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
16. "Alan Eustace, D-7426, Bests High-Altitude World Record". U.S. Parachute Association. October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
17. "Felix Baumgartner". redbull.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
18. The picture that proves Felix Baumgartner always dreamed of reaching for the skies
19. "Archive: 1999". felixbaumgartner.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
20. "Birdman Flies Atair Parachutes Across English Channel". Atair Aerospace, Inc. 21 November 2003. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012. This page gives the date of Baumgartner's jump as 31 July 2003.
21. Abrams, p. 251.
22. Dittrich, Luke (14 July 2010). "The Man Who Would Fall to Earth". Esquire. p. 4. Retrieved 20 October 2012. he leapt from the outstretched hand of O Cristo Redentor, the ninety-eight-foot-tall statue that looms over Rio de Janeiro... the final product was... a world record — lowest BASE jump ever
23. Abrams, p. 249.
24. Millau Viaduct
25. "Pr-jippo kan sluta med åtal" (in Swedish). 18 August 2006. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
26. "Extreme Felix Baumgartner jumping off Taipei 101". YouTube. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
27. Choi, Charles Q (22 January 2010). "'Space diver' to attempt first supersonic freefall". New Scientist. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
28. "Baumgartner breaks the Maximum Vertical Speed World Record". The World Air Sports Federation (FAI). 26 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
29. Dunn, Marcia (15 March 2012). "Skydiver jumps 13.6 miles on path to world's highest jump". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
30. "Felix Baumgartner's jump from space's edge watched by millions". The Associated Press. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
31. Dunn, Marcia (25 July 2012). "Skydiver Fearless Felix jumps from 19 miles up". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
32. "Record ID 16670, Parachuting - Exit altitude Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, 14 October 2012. Accessed: 15 December 2013.
33. "Skydiver fell faster than thought". The Blade. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
34. "Record ID 16671, Parachuting - Freefall distance Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, 14 October 2012. Accessed: 15 December 2013.
35. Irvine, Chris (14 October 2012). "Felix Baumgartner: Daredevil in record-breaking free fall attempt: live". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 14 October 2012.
36. Tierney, John (14 October 2012). "Daredevil Jumps, and Lands on His Feet". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
37. Tierney, John (14 October 2012). "Daredevil Jumps, and Lands on His Feet". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
38. (CNN) Report. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
39. NYDaily News:Red Bull Stratos Retrieved 15 October 2012.
40. "Felix Baumgartner to race at Nürburgring 24 Hours". redbull.com. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
41. (PDF). 24 June 2014 http://www.24h-rennen.de/uploads/media/24h_Race_02.pdf. Retrieved 6 December 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
42. Höfler, Klaus (27 October 2012). "Baumgartner: "Wir würden eine gemäßigte Diktatur brauchen"". Kleine Zeitung. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
43. "Daredevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner opts for 'moderate dictatorship'". AFP. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
44. Petridis, Alexis (1 November 2012). "Space jumper Felix Baumgartner parachutes into politics". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 4 November 2012.
45. Körperverletzung: Felix Baumgartner schuldig orf.at, German. 6 November 2012
46. Supersonic skydiver Felix Baumgartner found guilty of punching Greek lorry driver in road rage incident dailymail.co.uk, 6 November 2012
47. "Fall from space to a fall from grace: Fearless Felix is accused of punching Greek lorry driver during rush-hour road rage incident". Daily Mail (London). 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
48. "Sein tiefster Fall". Die Zeit (in German). 14 November 2013.
49. Samuel, Henry (15 October 2012). "The picture that proves Felix Baumgartner always dreamed of reaching for the skies". Telegraph (London). Retrieved 4 November 2012.
50. Reynolds, Emma (2 December 2012). "Death-defying skydiver Felix Baumgartner ready to take his biggest leap yet... marrying his girlfriend". Mail Online (London). Retrieved 17 October 2012.
51. Felix Baumgartner biography
52. Baumgartner: "Millennium" BAMBI
53. "The Men of the Year 2012", Top Gear (magazine)
54. Sturtridge, Tim. "Felix Baumgartner wins Laureus Sports Award". 2013 Red Bull. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
55. "51 Heroes of Aviaton". Flying Magazine. Flying Magazine. Retrieved 2015-03-20.

Footnotes

1. Baumgartner's mother's name has also been reported as Ava.

External links

• Felix Baumgartner on Twitter
• Motorsport Official Account on Twitter
• Red Bull Stratos Project
• Space Dive, BBC documentary about Baumgartner (2012), 60 minutes.
• Video (03:14) – Felix Jump – Christ Statue – Rio de Janeiro – 9 July 2005.
• Video (09:25) - Felix Jump - POV from Stratosphere (127,851 ft) - 14 October 2012.
• Felix Baumgartner career summary at DriverDB.com