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.

Álvarez, a former Air Force pilot with nearly two decades of wingsuit experience, has built a reputation for extreme aerial feats, including flying in and out of Chile’s Villarrica volcano in 2021 and skydiving into a surfing wave.

Reflecting on his achievement, he said: “This mission was about taking human flight to the next level—not just for me, but to show what’s possible when you dream big and commit fully. No one had attempted to break all three records in a single jump before, but with the right preparation, training, and technology, we made it happen.”
He added: “I hope this inspires others to chase their own limits because boundaries exist to be pushed.”

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 required two years of intense preparation, including wind tunnel training, strength conditioning, and a strict diet. Álvarez’s dive from a Piper Cheyenne 400LS aircraft, piloted by Michael Mullins, saw him reach his top speed within just 30 seconds—far surpassing the fastest Formula 1 car.

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) judge Michael Cooper praised the flight’s balance, stating: “It's not just incremental changes on the records. It’s significant margins on all three. You can always optimise for one of time, distance, or speed, but breaking all three in one flight is a big challenge.”

Álvarez’s ability to maintain control while maximising all three metrics was described as “a very well-balanced and efficient flight.” The mission's success hinged on technological innovation, with industry experts modifying Álvarez’s wingsuit to incorporate extended wingtips and fairings for better glide performance.

Matt Gerdes of Squirrel Wingsuits explained: “Seba’s wingsuit is modified for his high-altitude equipment and mission demands. This is not an easy suit to fly—it’s the most physically and technically demanding in our range.”
Álvarez, a former Air Force pilot with nearly two decades of wingsuit experience, has built a reputation for extreme aerial feats, including flying in and out of Chile’s Villarrica volcano in 2021 and skydiving into a surfing wave.