Video: A World-Record 164-Person Skydive

Setting up and pulling off a world record skydive attempt isn't easy. There is a lot of preparation and coordination that goes into such an event. This video not only gives us a behind the scenes look at how something like that comes together, but it also takes us into the air to join 164 skydivers as they link-up mid-flight to set a new world record. As you can probably imagine, it is a pretty spectacular sight.

Video: Wingsuit Pilot Flies Through Two-Meter Cave

Precision wingsuit flying rarely fails to impress, and this video is no exception. It features pilot Uli Emanuele sailing through a narrow gap in a rock face that is just two meters in width. Of course, all of the action is captured on GoPro, giving us a first person perspective of what it is like to fly through this narrow passage at high speeds. This is not only very impressive, it is also quite terrifying. Watch at your own risk.

Video: Wingsuits Over Alaska

Considering I just returned from Alaska, this video seemed like a fitting one to share. It features a team of wingsuit pilots that traveled to the 49th state to check out all of the opportunities that it has to offer in terms of BASE jumping and wingsuit flying. The clip features plenty of levity to go along with the great scenery, which gives it a sense of fun that you don't always find in these videos. But the real star of the show is Alaska itself, a place that is simply stunning in scope and beauty.

Alaska! from squirrel on Vimeo.

Video: NBC News Discovers Wingsuit Flying

It is always interesting when the mainstream media discovers an outdoor or extreme sport, and gives it some exposure. Last night, NBC News did just that with its brief exposé on wingsuit flying, which you'll find below. While this video, which features the GoPro Bomb Squad, was part of the nightly news, it was also part of a documentary that aired on CNBC last night entitled "The New High: Extreme Sport," which took a look at a number of the activities that many of us follow or participate in. The one-hour special not only examined wingsuit flying and BASE jumping, but also obstacle course racing, kiteboarding, and other "extreme" activities. The show is likely to air again over the weekend, so if you get a chance, give it a look. I haven't seen it myself, and I'm curious as to how it came out. In the meantime, you can get some solid ariel footage from the clip below.

Video: Wingsuit Flight Over an Active Volcano

We've been overdue for a good wingsuit video for awhile, and now it comes to us in the form of this clip that features a trio of pilots flying over an active volcano. The video was shot on Mount Bromo in Indonesia, and as usual includes some dizzying perspectives of the ground below. It is a wild flight that begins with a leap from a helicopter and ends with a landing in the beautiful countryside.

Video: "Jetmen" Make Dramatic Flight Over Dubai

We've featured "Jetman" Yves Rossy, and his impressive looking jetpack, here on the Adventure Blog before. But now he's back, and he's brought a friend along for the ride. In this video, Rossy is joined by his protege Hetman Vince Reffet on an impressive flight over the city of Dubai. The two men fly in formation while the "City of Dreams" makes for a dramatic backdrop. The personal aircraft the two men use during their flight looking incredibly fun to fly, and while I'm not ready to give it a go just yet, it sure makes for a fun video.

Thanks to my friend Rick for sharing!

Skydiver Will Attempt 25,000-foot Drop Without a Parachute

Luke Aikins is no stranger to skydiving. After all, he has made more than 16,000 jumps in his career. He even played a role in helping Felix Baumgartner make his historic free-fall from the edge of space back in 2012. But now, Aikins is preparing for a daring jump of his own, and it just might be more dangerous than the one that made Baumgartner a household name.

According to this article from Dropzone.com, Aikins is preparing to make a jump from 25,000 feet (7620 meters) without using a parachute at all. Instead, he'll use a wingsuit to control his descent as he attempts to land on a 100x100 foot (30x30 meter) net which will stop his fall.

This event, which will take place at an undermined date later this year, will leave little room for error on the part of Aikins  He'll be traveling at a tremendous speed as he nears the net, and even the slightest error in his flight path could result in disaster. Of course, the jump is set to be aired on television, although it is unclear as to which network will actually show it live.

As Dropzone points out, this won't be the first time a skydiver has jumped out of a plane with out a chute, but in most other cases they had others with them that were able to either grab them on the way down, or hand them a parachute to don as they descended. In this case, Aikins will be all alone, and won't have safety net of carrying a parachute with him. If something goes wrong, he's on his own, and it isn't likely to end well.

The video below is a teaser for the project, which has been dubbed "Heaven Sent." Lets hope that name isn't somehow portentous of the outcome. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this in the weeks ahead.

Video: Precision Wingsuit Flight Over Chile

Take a daring flight with wingsuit pilot Sebastian Alvarez in this video as he blasts down a volcano near Santiago, Chile in his attempt to fly through a Chilean flag as he descends. Of course, this take some precision control, especially considering how fast he's moving on the way down. Crazy stuff to provide a bit of an adrenaline rush on a Friday afternoon.

Video: Flying the Aura 2 Wingsuit

After not having a good wingsuit video for quite some time, we now have two in one day. This seven-minute clip is a promo for the Aura 2 suit from Squirrel, which just went into production a few days ago. While it is used to sell the product – which most of us will probably never buy – it does feature some beautiful shots of pilots putting the new suit to the test in some beautiful locations. If you like BASE jumping and wingsuit videos, this will be pure bliss for you. Truly some fantastic footage on display here.

Squirrel >> AURA 2 from squirrel on Vimeo.

Video: Wingsuit High Five

We've seen some footage from this clip before, but now we get the full picture. It features a wingsuit pilot zipping down the French Alps in an attempt to give a foam hand a "high five" as he flies by. The video conveys an amazing sense of speed as he flies through the mountains with reckless abandon. This is one of the more impressive wingsuit videos I've seen in awhile, and will definitely provide a jolt of adrenaline for you today.

Video: Night Time Wingsuit Flight Paints A Vivid Picture

There is no question that wingsuit pilots continue to push the limits of what is possible in the air. But this video takes things in a new direction. The pilot makes a night time flight that doesn't offer much in the way of scenery at first, but delivers a payoff with an excellent timelapse image in the end. It is a good example of what a little imagination and creativity can deliver as he uses a flare to dramatic effect.

Video: Wingsuit Flight Over Kilimanjaro

In keeping with our Kilimanjaro theme today, we have this video which features wingsuit pilot and BASE jumper Valery Rozov flying off the top of Africa's highest peak. As you can imagine, the views are spectacular, and the flight is an impressive one. Hard to believe I was just on this mountain a few days ago. Enjoy!

Video: Valentine Wingsuiting in the Alps of France

To celebrate Valentine's Day a bit early, professional wingsuit pilots Sam Hardy and Nate Jones scaled a 2525 meter (8284 ft) peak at the Brevent in Chamonix, France. They then proceeded to leap off the cliff, and sailed back down the mountain in grand style. This video is the record of that flight, which includes some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside covered in winter snow. It is a beautiful part of the world, and it is understandable why Chamonix is so popular with BASE jumpers and wingsuiters.

Video: Wingsuit Flight Over the Great Pyramids of Egypt

We have been overdue for a good wingsuit video, and this one arrives just in time. It features Cedric Dumont sailing above one of the greatest monuments ever built by man – the Great Pyramids of Egypt. The short video certainly gives us vantage point of those structures that we haven't seen before, as Dumont slowly tumbles to the Earth while the Pyramids only grow in size. Definitely a cool way to approach those amazing wonders.