Wingsuit Flying
7 amazing wingsuits that will make you look twice
We always knew that wingsuit pilots were out there, but we didn't know they were this far out there. Check out seven of the most innovative and spectacular wingsuits.
Most people don't have fashion at the forefront of their minds when they barrel out of a plane or yeehaw off a cliff. For some, however, high style marks are their own reward. Wait until you scroll down to check out the most innivative, spectacular and downright wackiest wingsuits in the air, among them: a yawning void, two superheroes and a flying farm animal.
01
The Wingsuit Foil
- Who's wearing it: Peter Salzmann
- What is it: The Wingsuit Foil
- Why it's rad: It's a one-of-a-kind, never-been-done piece of technology
- How does it fly? Longer and further than anybody else.
The never-before-seen technology of the Wingsuit Foil is the result of a three-year-long collaboration between Salzmann and wingsuit foil developer Andreas Podlipnik, as well as support from the engineering team at Red Bull Advanced Technologies with their knowledge in F1 and aerodynamics.
In October 2024, Salzmann leapt from a snow-covered ledge on Switzerland's Jungfrau mountain at a height of 4,063m. Reaching a top speed of 200kph shortly after the exit, he managed to fly for almost six minutes without engine propulsion, covering an incredible distance of 12.5km before deploying his parachute and landing safely on the ground between Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken.
The jump set new world records for the Longest BASE Flight Time of 5m 56s and Longest BASE Flight Distance of 12.5km (7.77 miles). Additionally, the jump's altitude difference of 3,402m (11,161 feet) also established a new record for Biggest BASE Jump from start to landing.
02
The Crayon Suit
Pál Takáts loves to look good in the air
© James Boole
- Who's wearing it: Pál Takáts
- What is it: TonySuits X-Bird 1
- Why it's rad: You can probably see this thing from space.
- How does it fly? Very, very visibly.
The current fashion pushes wingsuits in the direction of dark, shoegazing colours and Pál wanted to – literally – fly in the face of that trend. When he presented his brainchild to the designer, he was warned that he'd never be able to resell "something that looks like it came off a ski slope in 1983." That said: Pal insists that people love it, and that's reason enough for us.
03
The Heart of Darkness
Jeb Corliss is a mean machine in all-black
© Bryan Rapoza
- Who's wearing it: Jeb Corliss
- What is it: TonySuits Apache X
- Why it's rad: It has flown through, over and around things most wingsuit pilots never dream of, and it’s done it without the benefit of a single colour
- How does it fly? Invisibly, if it’s nighttime.
Jeb Corliss is well-known for his airsports colour scheme: the total absence of a colour scheme. He’s been wearing black suits since the turn of the millennium. The only change is that they’ve been getting bigger and bigger – like the Darkness in The NeverEnding Story, except without the terrifying animatronic wolf monster.
04
The Rainbow Suit
It's a rainbow in the sky
© Trond Teigen
- Who's wearing it: Romain Bignon
- What is it: Phoenix Fly Havoc Carve
- Why it's rad: There’s a pot of gold and a leprechaun waiting for Romain upon every single landing
- How does it fly? Like a Saturday-morning cartoon from the 1980s.
When Romain Bignon was presented with a list of colours on an order form, apparently his circuitry fried. The Rainbow Suit is partly inspired by the rainbow canopies that occupied the top echelon of skydiving fashion in the 1990s, partly inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and partly inspired by the scrap fabric lying around the Phoenix Fly factory. It’s glorious.
05
The Batman
Alex Swindle channels his inner Adam West
© Shane Sandler
- Who's wearing it: Alex Swindle
- What is it: Phoenix Fly Phantom 3
- Why it's rad: If he ever finds a cave atop a cliff, he could execute the most hardcore pop reference ever performed
- How does it fly? It has better glide than a cape, we’re willing to bet.
To say that Alex Swindle is a Batman fan is like saying Star Wars made a few people some money. His kit is Batmanned from top to bottom. They say that the only way to make a jump with him is to shine a bat-light into the skies over downtown Phoenix.
06
The Spidey
This isn't how spiders usually operate
© James Boole
- Who's wearing it: Guido Brescia
- What is it: TonySuits R-Bird 1
- Why it's rad: It’s got a lot of power (but with great power comes great responsibility)
- How does it fly? Really well, even without web-shooters in the wands.
Italian pilot Guido Brescia has been a massive Spiderman fan since he was a kid, so when he started flying with a wingsuit, there was only one design he was willing to entertain. Peter Parker would be proud of this one, we think.
07
The Bovine Badass
When cows fly...
© James Boole
- Who's wearing it: Domenico Berti
- What is it: TonySuits X-bird 2
- Why it's rad: This thing can really mooooove
- How does it fly? Significantly better than a real cow.
Domenico's nickname is 'Mucca' – Cow in Italian – and he wanted to be the fastest side of beef in the sky. The designer is legendary pilot and aerial photographer James Boole, who tolds us that it took a lot longer to design than you'd think. Apparently, if you add too many dots you get a Dalmatian.