Upon his untimely death aged just 56, Felix Baumgarter from Austria has joined the long list of visionary pilots, astronauts, athletes and aviators who possessed the courage to push the limits of human exploration and whose spirit now flies free, unbound by gravity.  

Baumgartner’s determination to set his own unique flight path thrust skydiving into global newsfeeds and helped air sports go viral through his bold, imaginative – and meticulously planned – feats.

Most famously, he jumped from a capsule on the edge of space, breaking the speed of sound whilst in freefall, and making a safe parachute landing in New Mexico, USA, whilst being livestreamed to amazed onlookers around the world.

Red Bull video of the Red Bull Stratos jump with commentary by Baumgartner

Pictures of Baumgartner’s Stratos jump from the edge of space adorn the walls of FAI’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, alongside photos of Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic, Piccard family achievements and Yuri Gagarin’s and Neil Armstrong’s space odysseys.

FAI’s General Secretary, Markus Haggeney, stated: “These pictures are our daily reminder of what can be achieved by those rare souls who dare to pursue the dream of flight and push against conventional human boundaries. Felix Baumgartner’s legacy will soar far into the future and inspire many generations of adventurers and explorers.”

Felix Baumgartner in free fall during the Stratos jump
© Luke Aikins/Red Bull Content Pool

A world famous skydive

The FAI world records in parachuting set by Baumgartner during the Red Bull Stratos skydive without drogue from the edge of the stratosphere on 14 October 2012 were ratified as follows:  

• Maximum Vertical Speed without drogue: 1,357.6 km/h
• Highest Exit Altitude: 38,969.4 metres
• Longest Vertical Distance of Free-fall without drogue: 36,402.6 metres

During the jump, he also became the first person to break the speed of sound whilst in freefall. Baumgartner’s vertical distance and speed records outlive him, remaining unsurpassed 13 years on.

In an interview with FAI on the fifth anniversary of the jump, Baumgartner recalled the intense preparations and the final moment before he left the capsule, at 39,045m, “That moment was definitely why we all worked so hard. All that effort for five years, all those hurdles we had to overcome. Finally standing on top of the world, knowing that the whole world was watching, was quite extraordinary. Then you take that one step forward and you’re on the way, not knowing what to expect. Nobody knew what would happen to a person breaking the speed of sound, but I had to find out, and I will always remember that moment.”

Baumgartner was awarded the FAI Gold Parachuting Medal in 2014 for his skydive from the stratosphere. 

A life in flight

Skydiving was not the only air sport that attracted Baumgartner’s attention: he also held a helicopter licence and flew paragliders and paramotors. He was known to pilot media helicopters at FAI events such as Red Bull Air Races or Parachute-Ski championships, and also visited FAI Helicopter World Championship competitions.

Like so many other aeronauts, Baumgartner had an early obsession with flight. He began skydiving aged 16 and competed for the Austrian military team. In 2003 he became the first person to glide unassisted across the channel between England and France with the aid of a set of carbon wings, a parachute, and an oxygen tank. He landed near Calais in France after jumping from an aircraft above the UK port of Dover.

Known for his thorough training and preparation, despite his reputation for high-risk feats, Baumgartner took safety seriously and emphasised the teamwork behind his projects.

Putting air sports in the spotlight

Dubbed “Fearless Felix”, this larger-than-life character understood the power of media to draw attention to his feats, and worked closely with Red Bull who sponsored many of his projects. As a result, he soared into the global consciousness, bringing the thrill and wonder of air sports into the lives of people around the world.

Fellow aviation pioneer Bertrand Piccard posted on social media about the loss of his friend: “With his record-breaking jump from the edge of space, Felix didn’t just fall, he soared into history. He inspired millions with his fearless pursuit of altitude, reminding us that human exploration is not about avoiding risk, but about embracing purpose. Though we never flew the same paths, we shared a common passion: to challenge limits, defy gravity—both physical and mental—and leave behind a sense of wonder for the next generation.”

With his extraordinary legacy, Baumgarter’s name is forever etched into air sports history, and will long continue to inspire future pioneers of the skies.

The air sports community mourns the departure of one of the greats, and FAI extends sincere condolences to all those feeling his loss.

Baumgartner in February 2012, training for the Stratos jump. Image © Jörg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Header image © Jörg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool