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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST
Felix Baumgartner is seen before his jump

Take a look at the incredible jumps 'Fearless Felix' has made.

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier in a record-breaking jump from a balloon floating nearly 37 kilometres above the earth.

Baumgartner who broke the record for the highest freefall has spent time in the Austrian military where he practiced parachute jumping, including training to land on small target zones.

He jumped from a capsule taken to 128,100ft (39km) above New Mexico in the US by a giant helium balloon.

It took nine minutes for him to reach the ground.

The adventurer plummeted at an estimated 1,343km/h, hitting Mach 1.24.

The capsule from which the skydiver fell was equipped with cameras to provide a live internet feed to millions of people around the world.

In this slideshow we take a look at the other incredible jumps 'Fearless Felix' has made.

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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner is seen after jumping from a transport plane above Dover at the start of his freefall across the English Channel between Dover and Calais, July 31, 2003.

Baumgartner jumped out of a plane at 9000 metres (29,500ft) above Dover in southern England, wearing only an aerodynamic jumpsuit with a 6ft (1.8m) carbon fin strapped to his back, oxygen to breathe, and a parachute to land, and landed safely in Calais after an eight-minute flight, becoming the first person to skydive across the English Channel.

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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

Austrian parachuter Felix Baumgartner, who goes by the code name 'Base 502', jumps from the arm of the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado mountain, overlooking Rio de Janeiro on December 1.

It is the first-ever known base-jump made from the site. In base-jumping, which is illegal in most countries, parachutists jump from buildings, bridges and earth points like rocks, and the parachute is only pulled open at the very last moment.

Baumgartner camped out overnight at the site and used a high-tech crossbow to shoot over the arm of the 30-meter-high statue to climb up. The statue and mountain are located 747 meters above sea level.

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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

Felix Baumgartner, jumps off the 'Dedo de Deus' rock (Finger of God) near Teresopolis, some 50 miles north of Rio de Janeiro on January 8, 2002.

Baumgartner, who specializes in BASE jumping from man-made or natural objects, leapt from the 1,675-meter-high peak (5,000 feet) and had just 320 meters (1,000 feet) of space to open his chute.

Baumgartner's resume includes daring jumps off Rio's most famous landmark, the statue of "Christ the Redeemer" atop Corcovado mountain, in 1999, and the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.

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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

A combo photograph shows Felix Baumgartner as he leaps and his parachute opens while parachuting from the top of the 137 metre high Pirelli skyscraper in the centre of Milan July 30. 

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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner is seen coming into land above the French coast at Calais during his freefall across the English Channel between Dover and Calais. 

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IN PIX: Reaching new heights of daredevilry

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

Felix Baugartner parachutes in for a landing at the third annual Taurus World Stunt Awards at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on June 1, 2003. The awards show honors the outstanding contributions of stunt men and women to the art of filmmaking.

 

 

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Last updated on: October 18, 2012 08:27 IST

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