In a world-first, Red Bull Air Force members and cousins Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington plan to swap airplanes in mid-flight — and you can watch it happen live.
The two pilots will fly their two Cessna 182s to 14,000 feet over Arizona, then pitch them into a synchronized nosedive, then stop the engines, while a custom-manufactured airbrake will hold the planes in a controlled-descent speed of 140 mph. The pilots will then exit their respective aircraft and skydive in tandem into each other’s planes, crossing over each other mid-air and regaining control, before performing a safe landing — all in under one minute for Plane Swap.
This is the first time in aviation history a pilot will take off in one plane and land in another, according to Red Bull officials. The concept is Akins’ brainchild inspired by a 1990s photo in an aviation publication and manifested over a lifetime.
Aikin is a skydiver with more than 21,000 jumps and a commercial pilot who flies airplanes and helicopters. The Washington native says he is always looking for ways to use science and engineering to push the sport to new heights. In 2016, he set a new world record by freefalling from the mid-tropospheric altitude of 25,000 feet without a parachute, landing in a 30m x 30m net. It’s just one of three world records he holds.
Meanwhile, Farrington, also from Washington, was born to fly. Raised in a family of skydivers, his mother, Jessie, made about 100 jumps with Andy in utero. Andy made his first tandem jump at age 12, went solo at 16, and has since accumulated more than 27,000 jumps, 1,000 BASE jumps, and 6,000 hours as a pilot.
According to Redbull officials, “hours of research and development have gone into the modifications required to ensure the feat is possible, with world-renowned aeronautical engineer Dr. Paulo Iscold partnering with Aikins and Farrington to serve as lead engineer and solving the issue of how to produce a controlled vertical descent – the exact opposite of how autopilot systems are designed to function.”
This required the reverse engineering of the autopilot mechanics and resulted in a purpose-built airbrake system installed on the belly that will hold the planes at a controlled-descent speed of 140 mph that closely matches the rate of the skydivers’ descent, officials explained.
“Plane Swap is the pinnacle of my career, and my goal is to inspire the world and show that anything is possible,” Aikins said. “You can set your mind on something that at times seems wild, crazy, and unattainable, but through ambition and creativity, you can make it happen.”
You can watch Plane Swap live on Hulu, on the free Red Bull sport tv app, or on Red Bull TV here on April 24, 2022, beginning at 4 p.m. Pacific time, 7 p.m. Eastern time.
I am starting to associate “Red Bull” with “senseless and stupid”…. Merely pablum for the Gen X’ers…..The advancement to aviation to be achieved? ZERO. The promotion of aviation expected? ZERO.
I guess they have not a thing to live for anymore. I love danger but this seems stupid to me!
How about each plane has a back seat, back-up pilot sitting by in case something goes terribly wrong? That would likely satisfy the FAA, and not interfere with the stunt.
I sure their insurance company would love this idiotic maneuver.
wasn’t this done in the movie 20 years ago
Oh sure! But can they do it blindfolded… wearing straight jackets?
Maybe the smarter you are the dumber you get , maybe a political career after this?
While they’re skydiving they aren’t in control of their aircraft. What is the FAA going to say about this and will the be able to keep their pilots license after this stunt?
You’re doing Relative Work with an airplane. The planes will probably be pretty stable in their controlled descent so it might be easier to dock with the planes than a human? A big challenge will be the distance between the planes.
Does the FAA know about this?
Actually he only risk here is to the perfectly good airplanes. For there guys, this is no different than most people walking.
Added to the list of silly stunts. Did they say they’re going to kill the engine? Just a windmilling prop? What fun is that? ….. 🤦♂️
I love to fly, and I love to jump let’s hope all goes well and no one is hurt in the air and on the ground and a good plane isn’t totaled. Have fun gentlemen!!!
Swapping planes in mid-flight is like ‘self abuse’ in a House of Ill Repute: you can do it, but what’s the point…?
The point is “because they can”
Just remember to leave the keys in the ignition.
When you put a huge amount of effort into doing something risky, pointless, and stupid, is that really an accomplishment??
yes is is. Doing something that has never been done is always worth the gamble. it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Maybe they can hire Trevor Jacob as a stunt coordinator. On second thought, that would be a bad idea.