A can transfer at about 170 km/h and 2500 meters above sea level? A glider acrobat and a skydiver achieved the seemingly impossible just before Airpower24.
With the radio message “Energy low – request tanken!” Red Bull Blanix glider acrobat Ewald Roithner realized an extremely demanding “pipe dream” because the timing of this unprecedented stunt had to be perfect.
“I flew upside down”
Steady flight was essential to hand the cans to the skydiver. “I was flying upside down and reached out of the cockpit to receive the can from Marco Fürst,” Roithner explains.
No Mission Impossible
“It was scary in the air to fly so close to Ewald and his glider with the wingsuit,” says Fürst from the Skydive team. “My feet were extremely close to the wings and it was a real challenge to stay so close. The closer you are to fixed objects in the air, the riskier it becomes for us as wingsuit pilots.”
“Arms length apart”
“We were just an arm’s length apart. That was a very special moment.” Roithner emphasized the difficulty of keeping the glider stable and at a constant speed.
“When the skydivers flew their formation close to the plane, I immediately felt the effects of the air turbulence.” Any turbulence was “clearly noticeable on the wings.”
The stunt was a success – a worthy start of Airpower24 on September 6 and 7, 2024 at Hinterstoisser air base in Zeltweg.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
