BMW Launches Electric Wingsuit For First Time, Taking Off 9,800 Ft Into The Sky
Image via BMW
BMW worked with its global creative consultancy Designworks to develop an electric wingsuit.
The getup was dreamed up by air sportsman Peter Salzmann three years ago, and he has finally put the electric wingsuit to the test among the mountains in Austria.
The trial saw Salzmann dropping from a helicopter at 9,800 feet with two other conventional wingsuit operators. The three of them soared beneath the skies, but Salzmann was the only one who was able to accelerate and fly across the summit.
The group then opened their parachutes and landed safely.
The electric wingsuit is equipped with a rig on the chest, which provides an output of 15kW. This delivery is then split among two 7.5kW carbon impellers that can spin at the speed of 25,000 RPM and produce a thrust for around five minutes.
Watch the electric wingsuit’s first test below.
[via Electrek, cover image via BMW]
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