Highest unassisted static jump into an air cushion
- Quién
- Stig Günther
- Qué
- 145 kilometre(s) per hour
- Cuándo
- 07 August 1997
On 7 August 1997, Stig Günther of Denmark, made a fall of 104.5 m (342 ft) off a crane onto an air bag measuring 12 x 15 x 4.5 m (39 ft 4 in x 49f t 2 in x 14 t 9 in). His impact speed was about 145 km/h (90 mph).
Stig got the idea for this record when he performed the same type of dive into a pile of cardboard boxes in 1993. It took a few years to design and make the bag which cost around £13,500 and was made in a parachute factory. He scouted around 20 buildings in order to find a place to jump from including La Defence Arch in Paris. When he approached a crane company a second time they finally agreed to help him.
Stig rented the crane for three weeks, performing small jumps whose height he would steadily increase. He also did a lot of bungee jumping to get used to the feeling of stepping of a ledge that high and trampoline practise three times a week for three years.
Stig explained that once you leave the ledge you have no control over your body. What was important was that he should land on his back curled into a ball to prevent any serious injury. In order to know precisely where to position the ledge at the top of the crane, a rope 100 metres long was hung which would signal to Stig when he was above the airbag.
After all the preparation, it is odd that he says that as soon as he left the ledge he can't remember anything other than jumping up from the airbag with his arms in the air in celebration!
Stig rented the crane for three weeks, performing small jumps whose height he would steadily increase. He also did a lot of bungee jumping to get used to the feeling of stepping of a ledge that high and trampoline practise three times a week for three years.
Stig explained that once you leave the ledge you have no control over your body. What was important was that he should land on his back curled into a ball to prevent any serious injury. In order to know precisely where to position the ledge at the top of the crane, a rope 100 metres long was hung which would signal to Stig when he was above the airbag.
After all the preparation, it is odd that he says that as soon as he left the ledge he can't remember anything other than jumping up from the airbag with his arms in the air in celebration!