Revolutionary wingsuit foil pushes human flight to new limits

Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann creates a new 12.5km BASE world record

Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann has taken human flight to a new level, debuting an innovative wingsuit foil at Switzerland’s Jungfrau mountain. With this new technology, Salzmann flew without engine propulsion for nearly six minutes, covering a distance of 12.5 kilometres that included an altitude difference of 3,402m, setting world records for Longest BASE Flight Time, Furthest BASE Flight Distance, and Biggest BASE Jump from start to landing.

Snapshot:

1. Historic Achievement: Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann set three new world records from start to landing – Longest BASE Flight Time, Furthest BASE Flight Distance, and Biggest BASE Jump – from Switzerland’s Jungfrau mountain using an innovative wingsuit foil.
2. Flight Details: Jumping from an altitude of 4,063m, Salzmann achieved a flight distance of 12.5 km over nearly six minutes, reaching speeds up to 200 km/h.
3. Wingsuit Foil Technology: The wingsuit foil, developed with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, resembles a hydrofoil with a 2.1-metre wing and features a lightweight (5.45kg) design, enhancing glide efficiency and lift without engine propulsion.
4. Design and Development: The foil took three years to develop, with six prototypes tested in collaboration with Austrian wingsuit expert Andreas Podlipnik. The design nearly doubles the typical wingsuit glide ratio, thanks to aerodynamic optimisations.
5. Technical Challenges: Salzmann’s flight faced cold and windy conditions, showcasing the suit’s resilience and advanced aerodynamic efficiency.

Deep Dive:

The Jungfrau, the highest peak in Switzerland’s Interlaken region, is a renowned destination for expert BASE jumpers. Celebrated for its stunning scenery and dramatic cliffs, it provided the perfect setting for Salzmann’s record-breaking flight. Jumping from a ledge at 4,063m on the mountain’s north side, in conditions that included temperatures ranging from –5 to +9°C and winds reaching up to 37 km/h, Salzmann hit a top speed of 200 km/h, and flew for a total of 5 minutes and 56 seconds before deploying his parachute.

With his newly developed wingsuit foil, Salzmann managed to fly further than the previous world record for the Longest BASE Flight distance (7.5 km) by covering 12.5 km. And finally, the jump’s altitude difference of 3,402 metres established a new record for Biggest BASE Jump from start to landing. Salzmann, a world-class wingsuit pilot known for his daring flights and a skilled aerial camera operator, continues to push the boundaries of human flight with the aid of cutting-edge technology.

“The wingsuit foil flight today was just like out of space. It was a really challenging flight; I had everything in this flight. It was a true challenge – it was super exhausting, but also the best feeling in between. All in all, I’m just super happy that everything went well like this, and I could manage the longest foil flight,” said Salzmann.

The wingsuit foil draws inspiration from hydrofoil design, featuring a 2.1-metre wing constructed with a sandwich design, incorporating a foam core and 3D-printed parts. Developed over three years and with six prototypes tested, Salzmann worked closely with Austrian wingsuit expert Andreas Podlipnik – recognised for his pioneering development of cutting-edge suits for BASE jumping and skydiving – to design and produce the advanced wingsuit foil.

Podlipnik explained: “With a normal wingsuit, we achieve a good glide ratio of 2.6 to 2.8, maximum 3 – meaning 1 kilometre down, 3 kilometres forward. With the foil, we can almost double in efficiency, gliding flatter and even further, covering more distance from the same starting point.”

The foil’s configuration was optimised with the support of the Red Bull Advanced Technologies engineering team, leveraging their expertise in aerodynamics and Formula 1. Their critical insights helped identify performance-enhancing parameters, including the most efficient wing configuration, foil profile, geometry, size, and ideal distance from the body. Weighing just 5.45kg, the final wingsuit foil prototype attaches to the torso and is light and portable enough to allow for easy hiking while offering significant aerodynamic lift during flight, exponentially improving the glide ratio.

Salzmann’s achievement marks not only a personal milestone but also a leap forward for the wingsuit sport. Fellow Red Bull Skydive Team members Marco Fürst and Marco Waltenspiel, who worked with Salzmann on aerial camera work during their world-first flight through London’s Tower Bridge in May 2024, praised the wingsuit foil’s development.

“Peter’s wingsuit-foil project is a really exciting innovation. It merges traditional wingsuit precision with advanced foil technology, enabling more efficient gliding and improved speed without the need for engines. I admire athletes who invest their time and energy to elevate their sport in unique ways,” said Waltenspiel. (Red Bull Content Pool)