:Felix Baumgartner

File:Felix Baumgartner-001.jpg, Austria]]

Felix Baumgartner was born to mother Eva in Salzburg, Austria. His younger brother is Gerard.{{cite web |url=http://www.redbull.co.uk/cs/Satellite/en_UK/Profile/Felix-Baumgartner-021242964685433|work=redbull.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2012 |title=Felix Baumgartner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510151716/http://www.redbull.co.uk/cs/Satellite/en_UK/Profile/Felix-Baumgartner-021242964685433|archive-date=10 May 2013}}{{cite news|last=Samuel|first=Henry|title=The picture that proves Felix Baumgartner always dreamed of reaching for the skies|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9610286/The-picture-that-proves-Felix-Baumgartner-always-dreamed-of-reaching-for-the-skies.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195946/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9610286/The-picture-that-proves-Felix-Baumgartner-always-dreamed-of-reaching-for-the-skies.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2012|access-date=4 November 2012|newspaper=Telegraph|date=15 October 2012|location=London}}{{efn|name="Mother"|Baumgartner's mother's name has also been reported as Ava.}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/felix-baumgartner-21063563 |title=Felix Baumgartner biography |access-date=17 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103162752/http://www.biography.com/people/felix-baumgartner-21063563 |archive-date=3 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.oe24.at/welt/baumgartner/Papa-Baumgartner-Bin-so-stolz-auf-meinen-Felix/82188857|title=Papa Baumgartner -|date=18 October 2012|access-date=27 September 2016}} As a child, he dreamed about flying and skydiving.{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9610286/The-picture-that-proves-Felix-Baumgartner-always-dreamed-of-reaching-for-the-skies.html|title=The picture that proves Felix Baumgartner always dreamed of reaching for the skies - Telegraph|date=15 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195946/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9610286/The-picture-that-proves-Felix-Baumgartner-always-dreamed-of-reaching-for-the-skies.html |archive-date=15 October 2012 }} In 1999, he claimed the world record for the highest parachute jump from a building when he jumped from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.{{cite web |url=http://www.felixbaumgartner.com/index.php?id=20 |access-date=23 March 2012 |title=Archive: 1999 |work=felixbaumgartner.com}} On 20 July 2003, Baumgartner became the first person to skydive across the English Channel using a specially made carbon fibre wing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atairaerospace.com/press/2003/11/birdman-flies-atair-parachutes-across.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707181729/http://www.atairaerospace.com/press/2003/11/birdman-flies-atair-parachutes-across.html |title=Birdman Flies Atair Parachutes Across English Channel |publisher=Atair Aerospace, Inc |date=21 November 2003 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |access-date=20 October 2012}} This article gives the date of Baumgartner's jump as 31 July 2003. Alban Geissler, who developed the SKYRAY carbon fiber wing with Christoph Aarns, suggested after Baumgartner's jump that the wing he used was a copy of two prototype SKYRAY wings sold to Red Bull (Baumgartner's sponsor) two years earlier.Abrams, p. 251.

Baumgartner also set the world record for the lowest BASE jump ever, when he jumped {{convert|29|m}} from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.esquire.com/felix-baumgartner-skydive-0810-4 | last=Dittrich | first=Luke | title=The Man Who Would Fall to Earth | magazine=Esquire | page=4 | date=14 July 2010 | access-date=20 October 2012 | quote=he leapt from the outstretched hand of O Cristo Redentor, the ninety-eight-foot-tall statue that looms over Rio de Janeiro... the final product was... a world record — lowest BASE jump ever | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016215515/http://www.esquire.com/felix-baumgartner-skydive-0810-4 | archive-date=16 October 2012 | df=dmy-all }} This jump also stirred controversy among BASE jumpers who pointed out that Baumgartner cited the height of the statue as the height of the jump even though he landed on a slope below the statue's feet, and that other BASE jumpers had previously jumped from the statue but avoided publicity.Abrams, p. 249.

He became the first person to BASE jump from the completed Millau Viaduct in France on 27 June 2004{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0406/S00225.htm|title=Baumgartner jumps from world's highest bridge | Scoop News|website=www.scoop.co.nz}} and the first person to skydive onto, then BASE jump from, the Turning Torso building in Malmö, Sweden, on 18 August 2006.{{cite web |url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/pr-jippo-kan-sluta-med-atal/ |title=Pr-jippo kan sluta med åtal |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=5 December 2010 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219053027/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/pr-jippo-kan-sluta-med-atal |archive-date=19 December 2012 }} On 12 December 2007, he became the first person to conduct an unauthorized BASE jump from the 91st floor observation deck of the then-tallest completed building in the world, Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan. Baumgartner was then banned from re-entry into Taiwan as a result of the incident. {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8U-z-SnbJU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/s8U-z-SnbJU |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Extreme Felix Baumgartner jumping off Taipei 101 |date=12 December 2007 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=18 May 2010}}{{cbignore}}

{{Main|Red Bull Stratos}}

In January 2010, it was reported that Baumgartner was working with a team of scientists and sponsor Red Bull to attempt the highest sky-dive on record, using a helium balloon.{{Cite web |last= Choi |first= Charles Q |date= 22 January 2010 |title= 'Space diver' to attempt first supersonic freefall |url= https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18427-space-diver-to-attempt-first-supersonic-freefall.html |work= New Scientist |access-date=14 October 2012 }}

On 15 March 2012, Baumgartner completed the first of 2 test jumps from {{convert|21818|m|ft}}. During the jump, he spent approximately 3 minutes and 43 seconds in free fall, reaching speeds of more than {{convert|580|km/h|mph|abbr=on}},{{cite web|publisher=The World Air Sports Federation (FAI)|title=Baumgartner breaks the Maximum Vertical Speed World Record|url=http://www.fai.org/news-of-records/36072-baumgartner-breaks-the-maximum-vertical-speed-world-record|date=26 July 2012|access-date=30 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230092725/http://www.fai.org/news-of-records/36072-baumgartner-breaks-the-maximum-vertical-speed-world-record|archive-date=30 December 2012}} before opening his parachute. In total, the jump lasted approximately eight minutes and eight seconds and Baumgartner became the third person to safely parachute from a height of over {{convert|21.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}.{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0315/Skydiver-jumps-13.6-miles-on-path-to-world-s-highest-jump |title=Skydiver jumps 13.6 miles on path to world's highest jump |first=Marcia |last=Dunn |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=15 March 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/felix-baumgartner-s-jump-from-space-s-edge-watched-by-millions-1.4115479|title=Felix Baumgartner's jump from space's edge watched by millions|publisher=The Associated Press|date=14 October 2012 |access-date=30 October 2012 }}

On 25 July 2012, Baumgartner completed the second of two planned test jumps from {{convert|96640|ft|m|order=flip}}. It took Baumgartner about 90 minutes to reach the target altitude and his free fall was estimated to have lasted three minutes and 48 seconds before his parachutes were deployed.{{cite news | first = Marcia | last = Dunn | title = Skydiver Fearless Felix jumps from 19 miles up | date = 25 July 2012 |agency=Associated Press | url = http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_SUPERSONIC_SKYDIVER | access-date =25 July 2012}}

The launch was originally scheduled for 9 October 2012 but was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Launch was rescheduled and took place on 14 October 2012. Baumgartner landed in eastern New Mexico after jumping from a then world-record {{convert|38,969.3|m|ft|0|abbr=off}},"[http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=16670 Record ID 16670, Parachuting – Exit altitude] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215231300/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=16670 |date=15 December 2013 }} Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, 14 October 2012. Accessed: 15 December 2013.{{cite news|title=Skydiver fell faster than thought|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/World/2013/02/04/Skydiver-fell-faster-than-thought-top-speed-verified-at-844-mph.html|access-date=17 October 2013|newspaper=The Blade|date=2 April 2013}} falling a record distance of {{convert|36,402.6|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} and parachuting the final {{convert|2566.7|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}.

During this descent Baumgartner set the record for fastest speed of free fall at {{convert|1,357.64|km/h|mph|1|abbr=on}}, making him the first human to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle.{{cite news|last=Irvine|first=Chris|title=Felix Baumgartner: Daredevil in record-breaking free fall attempt: live|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9607604/Skydiver-Felix-Baumgartner-attempts-to-break-sound-barrier-live.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015004821/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9607604/Skydiver-Felix-Baumgartner-attempts-to-break-sound-barrier-live.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2012|access-date=14 October 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=14 October 2012|location=London}}{{cite news|last=Tierney|first=John|title=Daredevil Jumps, and Lands on His Feet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/felix-baumgartner-skydiving.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 October 2012|date=14 October 2012}} Baumgartner was in free fall for 4 minutes and 19 seconds, a fall time 17 seconds shorter than the record set during mentor Joseph Kittinger's jump on 16 August 1960. Kittinger was also his radio contact during the jump.

Two years and 10 days later Baumgartner's altitude record was broken by Alan Eustace."[http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=16671 Record ID 16671, Parachuting – Freefall distance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215231306/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=16671 |date=15 December 2013 }} Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, 14 October 2012. Accessed: 15 December 2013.

Baumgartner initially struggled with claustrophobia after spending time in the pressurized suit required for the jump, but overcame it with help from a sports psychologist and other specialists.{{cite news |last= Tierney |first= John |date= 14 October 2012 |title= Daredevil Jumps, and Lands on His Feet |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/felix-baumgartner-skydiving.html?smid=pl-share |work=The New York Times |access-date=14 October 2012 }}[http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/14/us/skydiver-record-attempt/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 (CNN)] Report. Retrieved 14 October 2012.[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/felix-baumgartner-feel-broke-sound-barrier-article-1.1183735 NYDaily News:Red Bull Stratos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018071420/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/felix-baumgartner-feel-broke-sound-barrier-article-1.1183735 |date=18 October 2012 }} Retrieved 15 October 2012.

In 2014, Baumgartner decided to join Audi Motorsport to drive an Audi R8 LMS for the 2014 24 Hours of Nürburgring after racing Volkswagen Polos in 2013. He underwent another intense physical and driver training session to prepare him for the race.{{cite web|url=http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/stories/1331637560479/felix-baumgartner-to-race-at-n%C3%BCrburgring-24-hours|title=Felix Baumgartner to race at Nürburgring 24 Hours|work=redbull.com|access-date=9 March 2014}} He helped the team to a ninth place overall finish.{{cite web |url=https://www.audi-motorsport.info/v2/public/en/2014/press-release/single/id/9613 |title=Audi teams aim for third victory at Bathurst |date=2 December 2014 |publisher=Audi MotorsportInfo |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003103227/https://www.audi-motorsport.info/v2/public/en/2014/press-release/single/id/9613 |archive-date=3 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Baumgartner had one fight which he won.{{BoxRec|42227}}

In October 2012, when Baumgartner was asked in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung whether a political career was an option for his future life, he stated that the "example of Arnold Schwarzenegger" showed that "you can't move anything in a democracy" and that he would opt for a "moderate dictatorship [...] led by experienced personalities coming from the private (sector of the) economy". He finally stated that he "didn't want to get involved in politics."{{cite news |last= Höfler |first= Klaus |date= 27 October 2012 |title= Baumgartner: "Wir würden eine gemäßigte Diktatur brauchen" |url= http://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/extremsport/3995710/INTERVIEW_Baumgartner_Wir-wuerden-eine-gemaessigte-Diktatur-brauchen |work=Kleine Zeitung |access-date=28 October 2012 }}{{cite news |date= 28 October 2012 |title= Daredevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner opts for 'moderate dictatorship' |url= https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hedqNtFafT6OoZM2DlNAbg-loKyw?docId=CNG.f1b69071a71b5a3c203360758bd240fe.261 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121107004914/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hedqNtFafT6OoZM2DlNAbg-loKyw?docId=CNG.f1b69071a71b5a3c203360758bd240fe.261 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 7 November 2012 |work=AFP |access-date=4 November 2012 }}{{cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date= 1 November 2012 |title= Space jumper Felix Baumgartner parachutes into politics |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/lostinshowbiz/2012/nov/01/space-jumper-felix-baumgartner-politics |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 November 2012 |location=London}}

On 6 November 2012, Baumgartner was convicted of battery and was fined €1500 after slapping the face of a Greek truck driver, following a petty argument between the two men.{{Cite web|url=https://www.diepresse.com/1433977/felix-baumgartner-ohrfeige-ist-angemessene-erziehungsmethode|title=Felix Baumgartner: Ohrfeige ist "angemessene...|first=24 July 2013|last=Um 13:31|date=24 July 2013|website=Die Presse}}[http://salzburg.orf.at/news/stories/2557681/ Körperverletzung: Felix Baumgartner schuldig] orf.at, German. 6 November 2012

In January 2016, Baumgartner provoked a stir of critical news coverage in his home country after posting several critical remarks against refugees and recommending the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the Nobel Peace Prize.{{Cite web|url=http://derstandard.at/2000029853661/Jan-Boehmermann-will-Til-Schweiger-auf-Felix-Baumgartner-hetzen|title=Jan Böhmermann will Til Schweiger auf Felix Baumgartner hetzen|access-date=27 September 2016}} Later on, Baumgartner endorsed the presidential candidate of the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria, Norbert Hofer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.krone.at/Stars-Society/Felix_Baumgartner_ruft_zur_Wahl_von_Hofer_auf-Eigentlich_klar-Story-506738|title=Felix Baumgartner ruft zur Wahl von Hofer auf|website=krone.at|date=22 April 2016 |access-date=27 September 2016}} On 13 July 2016, Facebook deleted his fan page of 1.5 million fans. Baumgartner subsequently claimed that he must have become "too uncomfortable" for "political elites".{{Cite web|url=http://derstandard.at/2000041098486/Facebook-Seite-geloeschtFelix-Baumgartner-vermut-politische-Eliten-dahinter|title=Facebook-Seite gelöscht: Felix Baumgartner ortet "politische Eliten" dahinter|access-date=27 September 2016}}

After Austrian authorities refused to grant sports tax breaks to Baumgartner, he moved to Arbon, Switzerland, whereupon his house in Salzburg and his helicopter were seized.

Baumgartner dated Playboy German playmate of the century Gitta Saxx. Later he was engaged to Nicole Öttl, a model and former beauty queen (Miss Lower Austria 2006). They broke up in 2013.{{cite news |title=Sein tiefster Fall |url=http://www.zeit.de/2013/47/felix-baumgartner-steuerflucht-schweiz/komplettansicht |newspaper=Die Zeit |date=14 November 2013|language=de}}

Since 2014, he has been in a relationship with Romanian television presenter Mihaela Rădulescu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.everythingmixed.com/meet-mihaela-radulescu-felix-baumgartners-girlfriend/|title=Meet Mihaela Radulescu, Felix Baumgartner's Girlfriend|first=C.|last=Luciano|date=6 January 2015}}

• In 2012, he won the Bambi award in the category of "Millennium".{{Cite web|url=http://www.bambi-awards.com/home/detail/baumgartner-millennium-bambi-/105|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220021402/http://www.bambi-awards.com/home/detail/baumgartner-millennium-bambi-/105|url-status=dead|title=Baumgartner: "Millennium" BAMBI|archivedate=20 February 2014}}
• In December 2012, Baumgartner was named one of "The Men of the Year 2012" by Top Gear magazine.[http://www.immediatemedia.co.uk/2012/top-gear-magazine-awards-2012/ "The Men of the Year 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117162224/http://www.immediatemedia.co.uk/2012/top-gear-magazine-awards-2012/ |date=17 January 2013 }}, Top Gear (magazine)
• He was named Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year (12 March 2013).{{cite web|last=Sturtridge|first=Tim|title=Felix Baumgartner wins Laureus Sports Award|url=http://www.redbull.com/en/adventure/stories/1331583643664/felix-baumgartner-wins-laureus-award|publisher=2013 Red Bull|access-date=10 June 2013}}
• He received the Mankind Award at The 2013 Spike Guys' Choice Awards.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
• Flying magazine ranked him number 46 on their 2013 list of "51 Heroes of Aviation"; he is the youngest living person on the list.{{cite web |url=http://www.flyingmag.com/photo-gallery/photos/51-heroes-aviation?pnid=41808 |title=51 Heroes of Aviation |author= |website=Flying |access-date=20 March 2015}}
• He became second in Most Stylish Men 2017 by Be Global Fashion Network.[https://news.bgfashion.net/article/15077/14/Adam-Lambert-Felix-Baumgartner-Tom-Cruise-are-Most-Stylish-Men-2017 "Adam Lambert, Felix Baumgartner and Tom Cruise are Most Stylish Men 2017"], Be Global Fashion Network Magazine

{{Portal|Biography}}

• Space diving
• Eugene Andreyev — the former record holder for the longest-distance free fall jump
• Michel Fournier — who has been working on a 25-mile (40 km) jump for several years
• Nick Piantanida — flew highest balloon flight prior to Baumgartner: {{convert|123500|ft|adj=on}} in 1966.
• Project Manhigh — pre-NASA military project that took men in balloons to the middle layers of Earth's stratosphere. Participants set altitude and parachute jump records.
• Pyotr Dolgov — died in 1962 carrying out a high-altitude jump
• Charles "Nish" Bruce — In the early 1990s, Kittinger played lead role assisting him to break the highest altitude record.Tom Read, Freefall (Little Brown, Edition 1, 1998). {{ISBN|0-316-64303-3}}. The project was suspended in 1994 following Bruce's mental health breakdown.
• Steve Truglia — English stuntman who was planning a similar jump

{{notes}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://felixbaumgartner.com/}}
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01nts6t/Space_Dive/ Space Dive, BBC documentary about Baumgartner], 2012, 60 minutes
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-PsviSStA8 Video (03:14) – Felix Jump – Christ Statue – Rio de Janeiro – 9 July 2005]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raiFrxbHxV0 Video (09:25) – Felix Jump – POV from Stratosphere (127,851 ft) – 14 October 2012]
• {{DriverDB driver|felix-baumgartner}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-ach|rec}}

{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|USA}} Joseph Kittinger}}

{{s-ttl|title=Highest space dive (38.969 km)

|years= 14 October 2012 – 24 October 2014}}

{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} Alan Eustace}}

{{s-end}}

{{Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baumgartner, Felix}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Austrian skydivers

Category:Military personnel from Salzburg

Category:Space diving

Category:Austrian racing drivers

Category:Austrian stunt performers

Category:Flight altitude record holders

Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners

Category:People from Arbon

Category:Sportspeople from Salzburg

Category:Phoenix Racing drivers

Category:Nürburgring 24 Hours drivers