Stuntmen Will Take Off and Land in Separate Cessnas in World First

Long time boundary-pusher and skydiver Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington, members of the Red Bull Air Force crew, will attempt to exchange planes while in flight.

The stunt is the latest in a line of increasingly daring maneuvers from the crew, pushing the boundaries of skydiving and seeing just how far their techniques and daring can take them. In practice, the maneuver has been planned to have Aikins and Farrington, both pilots, put their Cessna 182s into a synchronized nosedive at 14,000 feet, stop the engines, cross over each other in mid-air and bring 'em down for a regular landing. Their aircraft will use customized airbrakes to maintain the aircraft at a brisk 125 knots while heading downwards before jumping out and trading aircraft.

Their aircraft required a significant level of engineering and customization, changing the autopilot and designing a belly-mounted brake that would ensure the plane maintains a controlled vertical descent. Additional support from aeronautical expert Paulo Iscold was the missing piece in tying the system together, ultimately producing a stable, reliable set of kit that tracks unlike any off-the-shelf autopilot. 

Aikins has built an impressive resume for himself, being the first to dive from mid-tropospheric altitude sans chute or wingsuit, in addition to working as an instructor and advisor for similar groups in the skydiving industry. Aikins has logged over 14,000 dives, and made some developments of his own for high-altitude deployment mechanisms. He said the new stunt was the most daring thing he's done yet. 

"It’s the pinnacle of my career," he said. "And my goal is to inspire the world and show that anything is possible. You can set your mind on something that at times seems wild, crazy and unattainable, but through ambition and creativity, you can make it happen." 

The stunt will be broadcast online on April 24, through Red Bull TV's streaming service, or affiliated content providers. 

FMI: www.redbullairforce.com