World first: Skydiver plummets 25,000 feet -- with no parachute

[William Seger]

(CNN)A U.S. skydiver came back to earth in spectacular fashion Saturday night -- netting a world's first in the process.

Luke Aikins plummeted from 25,000 feet above the desert landscape of California's Simi Valley without a parachute, landing squarely in a 100 feet x 100 feet, two-tiered net set up to catch him. He nailed the landing at 120 mph -- terminal velocity.

Moments before he reached the safety net he did a last-second roll onto his back to land in the right position. Upon landing he remained motionless for a short while, before the net was lowered, and he stood up to embrace his wife.

Aikins, a self-described "member of the Red Bull Air Force, professional skydiver, BASE jumper, stuntman, pilot ... (and) aviation expert," did the astonishing stunt, billed "Heaven Sent," live on TV while his family and supporters watched from the landing site.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/31/us/skydiver-no-parachute-successful-landing-trnd/

[Aristus]

1. He's received some criticism here at DU for being uncaring about what might happen to his family.

I do not share that criticism.

Good for him. The timeline of humanity runs along a track of achievement; risk, reward, pushing boundaries, overcoming odds.

He did well.

[FSogol]

5. I don't understand that criticism either. I used to climb and go mountaineering at

a pretty high level. Even participating in those "dangerous" sports, I was still more likely to die in an auto accident.

I totally get why someone would attempt that. What's next?

[Nitram]

2. Demonstrating that this can be done will save lives in the future.

A courageous and bold experiment.

[packman]

3. Yah-but Jesus - Really - How dead your "get a kick" button must be

to do that shit.

Now, I will look into my crystal ball and predict that within a year more jumps at higher altitudes and - this goes unsaid - with corporate sponsors - The Miller Lite 20 mile Jump, The Apple Air Blast with a 20 sq. foot net, The Prudential - We'll insure anything - jump from a burning plane, etc., etc. - and all on pay per view.

[FSogol]

4. Bah, it has been done before:

Remember Alan Magee? From Wiki:

Alan Eugene Magee (13 January 1919 – 20 December 2003) was an American airman during World War II who survived a 22,000-foot (6,700 m) fall from his damaged B-17 Flying Fortress. He was featured in Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 10 most amazing survival stories of World War II.

On 3 January 1943, Magee's Flying Fortress, B-17F-27-BO, 41-24620, nicknamed "snap! crackle! pop!", of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, was on a daylight bombing run over Saint-Nazaire, France when German fighters shot off a section of the right wing, causing the aircraft to enter a deadly spin. This was Magee's seventh mission.

Magee was wounded in the attack but managed to escape from the ball turret. Although his parachute had been damaged and rendered useless by the attack, having no other choice he leapt from the plane without a parachute, rapidly losing consciousness due to the altitude.

By some accounts, Magee fell over four miles before crashing through the glass roof of the St. Nazaire railroad station. The glass roof shattered, mitigating the force of Magee's impact. Rescuers found him still alive on the floor of the station.

More at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Magee

Magee died at 84 in 2003.