The Californian expert skydiver Luke Aikins takes skydiving to a whole new level, as he is planning to jump Saturday off a plane at 25000 feet but this time he will do it without parachutes.

Certainly, skydiving is an activity for daredevil souls. However, Aikins is ready to make it even more extreme as he has planned to make his next leap without carrying any parachute or wing-suit with him. Luke Aikins, 42, has been skydiving since he was 12 years old and was jumping solo at age 16. His family is related to the activity, his father and grandfather were skydivers and his wife, Monica, has already made 2000 jumps.

Experienced skydiver Aikins will attempt to revolutionize the skydiving industry by becoming the first man to perform a safe landing without a parachute. Image Credit: Daily Mail
Experienced skydiver Aikins will attempt to revolutionize the skydiving industry by becoming the first man to perform a safe landing without a parachute. Image Credit: Daily Mail

A seasoned skydiver

Ever since the athlete has been living out of extreme activities. He has trained the best skydivers in the world, has worked as a stunt in films such as Ironman 3, and has taught skydiving techniques to soldiers.

“If I weren’t nervous I would be stupid,” Aikins said when asked about his pre-jump preparation. “We’re talking about jumping without a parachute, and I take that very seriously. It’s not a joke.”

Skydiving is considered an extreme sport consisting on going from a high point to Earth’s surface. The skydiver must control the speed given by the gravity. It involves free-fall until the parachute is not deployed.

He recognized that his next leap idea might sound stupid to many people, he is ready to try new things and surprise the world with something that has never been done before. He said the idea was first to introduce by two TV producers a few years ago. He laughed at the moment.

“It’s not for me. I’ve got a wife and son, and it’s not for me,” said Aikins at the moment.

 But the idea stuck in his mind, and now he is about to make it real next Saturday when he jumps off a plane without a parachute.

If it all goes as planned, it will take him about two minutes to descend on a trawler-like fishing net made out of parachutes, which should make his landing safe. It is 20 stories high and big as a third of football field size. Its dimensions are 100 x 100 feet. But according to Aikins, even if it appears to be quite big, it is almost invisible to the eye at a 25000 feet height. This net has a light system to guide Aikins, letting him know if he is right positioned.

Landing on Earth’s surface without a parachute is not an easy feat to perform

He will be accompanied by three other skydivers: one carrying a camera, the second carrying a trailing smoke and the third one to collect the oxygen tank that Aikins will need for the first 10.000 feet. Aikins’ companions will open their parachutes at 5000 feet, but Aikins will not, longing to become the first and only person to go from the plane to the ground without a parachute. His hazardous jump will be broadcast live on Fox at 8 p.m, on the “Stride Gum Presents Heaven Sent” program.

His dangerous jump will be broadcast live on Fox at 8 p.m, on the “Stride Gum Presents Heaven Sent” program.

Source: Review Journal