Skydiver plans English Channel flight (ie. "skydive" from England to France)

An Austrian with a carbon wing strapped to his back will attempt to be the first man to fly across the English Channel unaided.

Felix Baumgartner plans to leap from a plane 30,000 feet (9,000 metres) above Dover and glide over the 22 miles (35 kilometres) of water to France.

At times he will reach speeds of 224mph (360kph) in temperatures as low as -68C.

He hopes to land by parachute in Cap Blanc-Nez near Calais, after seven minutes in the air.

The 34-year-old former mechanic and motor cross driver said he was confident he would become the first person to fly unassisted across the Channel.

"I'm my own plane. I'll be using no engine, just perfect aerodynamics and my skills," he told the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Baumgartner will wear an aerodynamic jumpsuit with a 6ft carbon wing attached to it for Thursday's Channel attempt.

He will also have a supply of oxygen for the beginning of the flight when the air is thin and temperatures can drop to -68C.

Weather and air traffic controllers permitting, Mr Baumgartner will jump early on Thursday.

The success of his flight will depend on him moving horizontally into the perfect gliding position.

The flight has been given the codename "Icarus Two", after the Greek mythological figure who fell to his death when he flew too close to the sun.

Mr Baumgartner is no stranger to daredevil feats usually launched from great heights.

In 1999, he achieved the record for jumping from the 1,483 feet (452 metre) Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur - the tallest building in the world.

In the same year, he parachuted from the right hand of the 100 foot (30.5 metre) statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro.

"There is an epic quality about the sea which has throughout history stirred the hearts and minds of Englishmen of all nations. Sir Francis Drake, Captain Webb, Nelson of Trafalgar and Scott of the Antartic - all rose to the challenge of the mighty ocean. And today another Englishman may add his name to the golden roll of history: Mr Ron Obvious of Neaps End. For today, Ron Obvious hopes to be the first man to jump the Channel."

In a somewhat related story:

Skydiver Hits Bridge in Colorado, Dies

CANON CITY, Colo. - A skydiver attempting a stunt was killed Sunday when he hit a 1,000-foot-high bridge and fell onto the rocks below, police said.

Dwain Weston, 30, died following the inaugural Go Fast Games, in which he and other parachutists had jumped off the 1,053-foot-high Royal Gorge Bridge, said Heather Hill, a vice president of event sponsor Go Fast Sports & Beverage Co.

Weston, of Australia, had jumped from an airplane with another parachutist. They were supposed to free fall until they reached the bridge, at which point Weston was to go above the bridge and the other athlete would go under it.

Weston, who was traveling an estimated 100 mph, miscalculated his distance from the bridge, the world's highest suspension bridge. He struck a railing and fell onto a rock face roughly 300 feet from the bottom of the gorge.

"I really couldn't believe it. All I ever heard was he was the best in the world, and he had skill to do it," Hill said. "Of course he always understood the risk and consequences of what he did. He was somewhat of a showman in his sport."

Weston was wearing a "wing suit," which has fabric extending below the arms to the body, with more fabric between the legs, allowing a skydiver to catch the air and travel more horizontally.

There were about 200 people on the bridge at the time of the accident, said Royal Gorge Bridge and Park executive director Mike Bandera. The bridge was shut down for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Before the accident, Weston had participated in the Go Fast Games, jumping off the bridge with about 40 other BASE jumpers — athletes who skydive from fixed objects.

The Royal Gorge is narrow for maneuvering parachutes, and winds are tricky, according to Go Fast Parachuting Director Jimmy Pouchert.

Hill said the accident would not affect future Go Fast Games, which also include rock climbing and BMX jumping.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.