Gary Connery to attempt skydive using wingsuit

[mhm]

A stuntman is to leap from a helicopter at a height of 2,400ft (730m) later and land without using a parachute.

Gary Connery, from Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, will attempt the stunt at 13:00 BST wearing a specially developed wingsuit.

The 42-year-old will make the jump above Ridge Wood in Buckinghamshire and land in an area containing 18,600 cardboard boxes.

"Now we have the green light, I can't wait to go for it," he said.

The father-of-two has already completed about 880 skydives and 450 base jumps.

He said: "The last few days have been a whirl of activity making sure everything is in place for flight.

"There has been so much interest in my world first attempt and a huge amount of support from the British public."

Vertical fall

During the attempt, Mr Connery will drop for three seconds before his suit "starts to fly" and will accelerate to a top speed of about 80mph.

He will land on a giant stack of cardboard boxes, which covers a strip of about 350ft (100m) by 45ft (15m) at Temple Island Meadows on the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire border.

Mr Connery must flare his wingsuit about 200ft (60m) from the target to bring his gliding speed down to 50mph and his vertical falling speed to 15mph.

The entire flight will take about 50 seconds, but can only take place under "perfect" weather conditions.

Mr Connery, who has worked on films including Die Another Day, Batman Begins and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, said performing stunts was "his life".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-18160632


Stark raving mad.  Wonder what odds are on with the bookies to see if he lives

[moonie31]

And the winner of this years Darwin award is..................

[mhm]

Jump now delayed till 15.00 hrs.

[Anmer]

He did it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-18160632

[mhm]

I wonder if it will be on news tonight