Takes To The Skies For 50th Anniversary Edition

Kate Upton and Sports Illustrated (SI) have taken swimsuit modeling where it's never gone before. Flying with Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G), Upton flipped, floated and modeled in true weightlessness - as if in outer space - for SI's 50th anniversary Swimsuit issue.

SI's landmark Swimsuit Production hit newsstands Tuesday, complete with a major package, Upton, floating in zero gravity. For Upton, who appeared on SI's swimsuit covers in 2012 and 2013, her weightless shoot was a way to bring modeling to new heights.
 
The shoot took place on March 18, 2013; Upton and ZERO-G flew out of Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, FL. A specially modified Boeing-727, known as G-FORCE ONE, performed a series of 17 parabolas - 13 zero gravity and four replicating lunar gravity - as Upton bounced and soared through the plane for the cameras. Upton's weightless experience was not simulated; ZERO-G is the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless airline flights for the public. 
 
"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. "We have been almost everywhere in the past 50 years with SI Swimsuit, but we have never done anything like this. It was certainly the most out-of-the-box shoot. Once again, Kate surprised us all with how she handled modeling in weightlessness."

And unfortunately, no, photos did not accompany the news release.

FMI: http://swimsuit.si.com