Wingsuit Flying
The human body wasn't made to fly, but Sebastián Álvarez did it anyway. The Chilean pilot jumped from a plane into a jet stream to kick off a brave new era of wingsuit flying.
Most people are born with two feet on the ground, but Sebastián Álvarez was born to fly. A former Air Force pilot and passionate surfer who traded ocean waves for sky currents, Chile's most daring wingsuit pilot has redefined the boundaries of human flight. Known as 'El Ardilla' (The Squirrel), Álvarez accomplished what many considered impossible - and most probably didn't even think about – breaking three wingsuit world records in a single flight by a significant margin.
Watch the flight on Red Bull YouTube here:
With the Red Bull Starman Mission, Álvarez pushed the limits of human flight by flying faster, further and longer than anybody before.
"I was flying way faster than a Formula One car," Álvarez recalls with wonder. "It's not that I want to compare to them, but it feels pretty good to be really fast - especially the fastest human alive."
Álvarez used the power of a jet stream to get the speed boost needed to break the records, spending several minutes flying at incredibly high speeds in the middle of a rapid river of wind.
Wingsuit flying is far more than an extreme sport; it's a dance between physics and gravity. Specialists like Álvarez wear a personalised wingsuit that dramatically increases surface area between the arms and legs, creating horizontal glide through the air. The wingsuit transforms a human into a living, breathing aircraft, generating lift that allows pilots to travel incredible distances. As the sport has evolved, it's become increasingly competitive, with pioneers like Álvarez continuously pushing the limits of what seems possible.
It feels pretty good to be the fastest human alive
The man who flies like a squirrel
Sebastián Álvarez grew up in the coastal town of Reñaca, where he rooted himself into the world-famous surf scene at a young age. Despite early daydreams of taking to the sky, Álvarez spent his adolescent years on the World Cup circuit as part of the Chilean Junior National Surf Team.
His desire to fly never escaped him however, prompting Álvarez to enlistment in the Air Force to train as a pilot. As Álvarez’s comfortability in the air grew over time, his intrigue with solo flight developed, leading to his career in skydiving, BASE jumping and, ultimately, wingsuit flight.
Red Bull Starman Mission: Redefining what's possible
Álvarez's triple world record flight – labeled Red Bull Starman Mission – was a project that's been five years in the making. It was Álvarez's first vision when becoming a Red Bull athlete. With his military aviation background and unwavering self-belief, he set out to push the boundaries of human flight further than anyone had before.
"It's about breaking three records in a single jump in a wingsuit," Álvarez explains. "This includes the record for distance, speed and duration. These records have been broken, but they have always been individual: athletes focus only on distance, speed, or duration and I wanted to take it to the next level, or to the next three levels."
What makes Álvarez's achievement particularly impressive is the conflicting nature of these records. Each demanded different techniques and body positions, requiring him to make precise adjustments throughout his descent.
The three records:
- Speed: Álvarez reached 550kph (342mph), flying faster than an F1 car by harnessing the Earth's jet streams. The previous Guinness world record had stood at 397kph (247mph).
- Distance: He travelled over 53.45km (33.22 miles) – almost double the distance of the previous official FAI record of 29.06km. This also meant he covered more than a marathon distance in just over 10 minutes.
- Time: With a flight time of 11m 1s, Álavarez's flight was exactly 1.30s longer than the previous official FAI record of 9m 31s. He demonstrated extraordinary endurance, maintaining a body position that would feel like a two-hour plank.
Engineering for the impossible
To accomplish this unprecedented feat, Álvarez relied on cutting-edge equipment that was specifically designed for his mission and a deep understanding of the mental framework required to succeed.
When asked about the flight before takeoff, Álvarez noted: "I think that two things, the cold and the oxygen, are my physical limitations. But, on the other hand, I had to look for the perfect day. I have to work on patience to be able to look for wind currents that can help me find that speed and that will take me to the distance I want to cover."
His custom wingsuit featured aerodynamic wingtip extensions that increased the wings' aspect ratio, improving glide performance similar to an airplane. The increased surface area required exceptional strength and technique to handle.
Special fairings around his feet reduced drag, enhancing both speed and glide efficiency. And beneath the suit, Álvarez wore an electric-powered thermal system to protect against the extreme cold.
His helmet was engineered exclusively for this mission, featuring an advanced oxygen system similar to those used by fighter jet pilots. The specialised mask protected against temperature and wind while ensuring the oxygen exhaust valve wouldn't freeze – a potentially fatal malfunction. Perhaps most crucially, a communications system provided GPS data every three seconds, giving Álvarez detailed information about his speed and glide ratio.
The path to record-breaking flight - training insights
Preparation for Álvarez's record-breaking flight was a multifaceted journey that went far beyond physical training, incorporating sophisticated psychological preparation and meticulous risk management.
On his physical conditioning, Álvarez targeted specific muscle groups critical to wingsuit performance: "The upper back, upper trunk, back, scapula, shoulders and neck – the wings." His training was adaptive, constantly testing and modifying equipment. "I did tests with a prototype," he said. "I know one didn't work for me, so I had to move on to another one and modify it."
One of the most unique aspects of Álvarez's preparation was his work with highly technical oxygen training. "When your oxygen fails, there are certain symptoms you can recognise, but if you're not trained, you won't be able to feel them."
His approach to mental training was deeply systematic, drawing from his military aviation background. "When I was a pilot, they always taught me that I couldn't take off in a plane without having a plan A, a plan B and a plan C," he explained. This philosophy translated directly into his wingsuit preparation.
By combining rigorous physical conditioning, advanced physiological training and sophisticated mental preparation, Álvarez transformed a seemingly impossible challenge into a calculated mission.
Inspiration beyond the records
Álvarez's accomplishment transcends the wingsuit community. It demonstrates what's possible when human determination meets meticulous preparation and technical innovation.
For the everyday athlete, entrepreneur, or dreamer, Álvarez's path reveals universal truths about achievement: groundbreaking success is not about sudden, miraculous moments, but about consistent dedication and incremental progress. His five-year journey to break three world records illustrates that significant accomplishments are built through patient, strategic preparation.
"Since I was a child, I've dreamed of flying," he reflects. "In the end, this project reflects my entire life story."
Since I was a child, I've dreamed of flying
Like the squirrel that inspired his nickname, Álvarez embodies the notion that human potential is limited only by our imagination and commitment.
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