PREVIEW

Chilean wingsuit pilot Sebastián 'Ardilla' Álvarez has shattered three world records in aerial sports with his daring Red Bull Starman mission a high-altitude wingsuit dive that pushed the limits of human flight. Álvarez leapt from an aircraft at 41,470 feet—higher than the cruising altitude of most commercial planes using the jet stream to boost his flight while making precise body adjustments to control speed, distance, and time. Remaining airborne for 11 minutes and 1 second, his jump over the West Tennessee Skydiving centre in the early hours of 22 March set new benchmarks in wingsuit flying. His record-breaking flight saw him reach a top speed of 550 km/h, cover 53.45 kilometres, and sustain his descent for over 11 minutes, significantly surpassing previous records. The feat was made possible by a custom-built wingsuit equipped with aerodynamic extensions, fairings, an oxygen system and electrically heated layers to combat the extreme conditions of the upper atmosphere, where temperatures plummeted to -100°C. It also required two years of intense preparation, including wind tunnel training, strength conditioning, and a strict diet.