Thursday, May 24, 2012

 Highest skydive without parachute: Gary Connery sets world record (PICS & Videos)

Henley-On-Thames, UK -- Gary Connery, 42, from Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, a veteran film stuntman, leapt 2400 feet and safely land without using a parachute; he did it with the aid of a specially designed "wing suit" and about 18,600 cardboard boxes that broke his fall , setting the world record for the Highest skydive without parachute, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/.
  Photo: Stuntman Gary Connery, wearing a specially developed wingsuit, prepares to land among cardboard boxes in England field. Photos: Reuters ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness world record for the most tandem parachute jumps in 24 hours at the same location was 130 organized by Khalsa Aid and Skydive Hibaldstow (both UK) at Hibaldstow Airfield in Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire UK.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the fastest speed reached in a wing suit: 363 km/h (225.6 mph), achieved by Shinichi Ito (Japan) over Yolo County, California, USA.

  The father-of-two, a veteran of 880 sky dives, 450 base jumps and dozens of film and television roles, jumped above Ridge Wood, Bucks to become the first person to jump from such a height and live without deploying a parachute.

  Connery, 42, leapt out of a helicopter above Henley-On-Thames, England, with about 100 onlookers cheering him on, according to reports.

 ( enlarge photo )

  The stunt lasted about 50 seconds, and with five seconds left, Connery spread his arms and legs open, resembling a flying squirrel.

  Doing so helped to slow him down from about 80 miles per hour to a glide speed of 50 miles per hour and a vertical falling speed of 15 miles per hour, The Telegraph newspaper reported.
( enlarge photo )

  The father of two accomplished the feat thanks to his specially designed "wing suit" and about 18,600 cardboard boxes that broke his fall, Sky News reported.

 "It was so comfortable, so soft," Connery told Sky News after sailing head first into the cardboard landing pad.

 "My calculations obviously worked out and I'm glad they did."