Forty two year old Luke Aikins became the first skydiver to leap from a plane at 25,000 feet without a parachute. Aikins was the backup diver in 2012 when Felix Baumgartner became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier when he leaped from 24 miles from the Earth. Aikins landed squarely in the middle of the 100×100 foot net.
The feat was almost cancelled when the Actor’s Guild insisted that he wear a parachute. Not only would that have defeated the purpose but it could have caused him serious injury when he dropped into the net. Just before takeoff, the requirement was lifted and Aikins took off. He was joined by three other divers. One wore a camera to record the event, one was equipped with smoke so that observers could track Aikins’ flight and the third was there to take the air canister from Aikins once he no longer needed it. Then the three opened their chutes and left him to his own devices.
Once he landed, he went over to his wife, who was watching as she held their baby in her arms who slept through the entire show.
His friend Chris Talley came up with the idea two years ago and Aikins declined and jokingly said he would help him find someone who would do it, but a couple of weeks later he called him back and said he’d do it. He spent two years setting up the stunt that many people, including those who built the safety net didn’t believe he could do.
https://youtu.be/g8j0YFzmqWc
The 42-year-old daredevil made his first tandem jump when he was 12, following with his first solo leap four years later. He’s been racking them up at several hundred a year ever since.
His father and grandfather were skydivers, and his wife has made 2,000 jumps. His family owns Skydive Kapowsin near Tacoma, Washington.
Aikins is also a safety and training adviser for the United States Parachute Association and is certified to teach both students and skydiving instructors. His business Para Tactics provides skydiving training to Navy Seals and other members of elite fighting forces.