Last weekend, five veteran skydivers got a view of New York City normally reserved for birds and Marvel superheroes.
The team of wingsuit-wearing flyers, known as the Red Bull Air Force, glided over the southern tip of Manhattan at an astounding 120 miles per hour.
WATCH:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UWZlNmpKm8&w=560&h=315]
Two members of the team, Jeff Provenzano and Amy Chmelcki, dropped into the "New Day" studio to share their unique experience:
HOW LONG DID THIS JUMP TAKE TO PLAN?
Provenzano: We had to get the permissions from the FAA and also from the city. It was a lot of permits. It took months.
Chmelecki: We practiced. We went to upstate NY to a place called the ranch and we practiced on Saturday – our line and we did some math, figuring out how we were gonna put it over the city – we only had one shot so …
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
Chmelecki: For me, my focus was my wingman to my left, so pretty much I could see him most of the time. But I could see Manhattan and I could see the Freedom Tower – I was like 'Oh my god, that’s the Freedom Tower.” I could see Jersey, but mostly I was just breathing and focused on my wingman.
Provenzano: I mean this one tops it ... I have some cool jumps set up over the summer but this was probably number one.
Chmelecki: To jump over NY felt absolutely amazing. It was such a beautiful morning and the buildings were shining. And Jersey on one side, NY on the other. It felt awesome.
Provenzano: I’d been looking forward to do this for maybe like 2 or 3 years, I’d been talking about this and it was just like a dream come true to finally make it happen.
HOW DOES THE SUIT WORK?
Provenzano: You have a lot of control with these, you can control your angle. Go steep. You can flatten out, you can control your speed too so you can go faster or slower. It’s a human kite.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART?
Chmelecki: The landing. It was definitely challenging landing on that small barge in the water.
The landing. Photo credit: Red Bull
Let us know below, would you ever want to do this jump?
soundoff (No Responses)