Skydiver makes 25,000ft jump with no parachute
A daredevil skydiver yesterday became the first to jump from a height of 25,000 feet (7620m) without a parachute, landing in a net in southern California.
Luke Aikins, 42, who has 18,000 jumps under his belt, completed the jump in Simi Valley, west of Los Angeles, landing in a net measuring 30m by 30m in a feat broadcast on United States television network Fox.
‘‘Aikins’ leap represents the culmination of a 26-year career that will set a personal and world record for the highest jump without a parachute or a wing suit,’’ his spokesman Justin Aclin said.
The broadcast showed Aikins, who was wearing an oxygen mask because of the altitude, jumping out of an airplane in a bright green outfit, accompanied by three parachutists.
He later handed the mask to one of the other jumpers in midair. Then the three accompanying skydivers opened their chutes and seemed to rise up away from Aikins as he fell alone.
Lights were strung along the sides of the net to serve as a guide for Aikins to aim himself as he hurtled toward it. When he was on target, the lights shone white.
After a freefall lasting about two minutes, Aikins at the last second flipped on to his back and hit the net, which Aclin said was suspended 61m above the ground, with a secondary net below it.
Aikins previously said the net system would subject him to a G-force of no more than 5G and break his fall for about 11⁄ seconds.
After he was lowered from the net, Aikins hugged his wife, Monica.
‘‘I’m almost levitating, incredible,’’ he said. it’s