AssetID: 55044537
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Wingsuit Pilot Peter Salzmann Breaks Speed Record By Jumping Of The Eiger
Caption: Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann has set a new world speed record for BASE jumping, reaching 347 km/h during a 35-second free fall over Switzerland. Launching from the North Face of the Eiger on Tuesday, 19 August, Salzmann surpassed the previous benchmark of 340 km/h. The 38-year-old flew 2,073 metres into the valley in a wingsuit he designed specifically for the attempt, before landing safely at 1,640 metres. With the performance, Salzmann pushed the BASE jump world speed record to 347 km/h – faster than the top speed of Formula One cars, which reach around 320 km/h. He also outpaced the world’s fastest camera drone, which accompanied him throughout the descent. Salzmann reached his top speed after around 20 seconds, maintaining a velocity above the previous record for seven seconds. A tracker integrated into his suit and a radar gun were used to verify the data. He said: “Every little movement determines whether you can finish the flight cleanly. It's absolute body tension, total control – and the knowledge that you can't afford to make any mistakes.” The flight placed significant strain on both Salzmann’s body and his equipment. He was accompanied by a drone operated by Dutch Drone Gods, a team of specialist pilots known for filming extreme sports. Ralph Hogenbirk, founder of the group, explained: “Normally, we fly horizontally behind racing cars. For this wingsuit BASE jump, we had to fly vertically downwards, a scenario we had never flown in before.” Salzmann added: “Trust in the drone and the pilot was extremely important, because at these extremely high speeds there is no room for error.” The turbulence behind the wingsuit made it difficult to maintain a stable image at more than 340 km/h. Reflecting on the achievement, Salzmann said: “Even a minimal difference can add several kilometres per hour. That's what makes this sport so extreme: the smallest nuances determine success or failure. The record is confirmation that with innovation and hard work, we can keep pushing boundaries. I've always been driven by the question: how fast can you really fly? I always believed in my idea that I could break this record.” Born in Salzburg in 1986, Salzmann became a skydiver and BASE jumper at the age of 20 and has since completed more than 500 jumps worldwide. In 2024 he set several records with his experimental “Wingsuit Foil”. For his latest feat, he collaborated with manufacturers and with the Red Bull Advanced Technologies team in the UK, refining designs and testing body positions to maximise speed.
Keywords: feature,photo,video,red bull,stunt,wingsuit,flying
PersonInImage: Peter Salzmann completes his record-breaking wingsuit flight.