Vincent Reffet
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Vincent Reffet (15 September 1984 – 17 November 2020) was a French
BASE jumper BASE jumping () is the recreational sport of jumping from fixed objects, using a parachute to descend to the ground. BASE is an acronym that stands for four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: buildings, antenna (radio), antenna ...
,
skydiver Parachuting and skydiving are methods of descending from a high point in an atmosphere to the ground or ocean surface with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or multiple parachutes. For hu ...
, wingsuit flyer, and jetman.


Biography


Career

Vincent Reffet was a professional parachutist. He completed 17,000 parachute jumps and 1,400
BASE jump BASE jumping () is the recreational sport of jumping from fixed objects, using a parachute to descend to the ground. BASE is an acronym that stands for four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: buildings, antenna (radio), antenna ...
s. He began
wingsuit flying Wingsuit flying (or wingsuiting) is the sport of skydiving using a webbing-sleeved jumpsuit called a wingsuit to add webbed area to the diver's body and generate increased lift, which allows extended air time by gliding flight rather than just ...
in 2002. He was a parachute instructor, " Jetman" pilot, licensed private pilot, wind tunnel instructor (totaling 1000 hours), and pioneer and instructor in
speed riding Speed flying and speed riding are recreational and competitive adventure sports of flying lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched Glider (aircraft), glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. They are similar sports to paragliding, but have ...
. According to ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', in 2014, Reffet "BASE jumped off the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building at , setting a world record". He was also a pilot of the jet-powered wingsuit developed by Jetman Dubai. Some sources describe him as having been a "protégé of well-known jet daredevil
Yves Rossy Yves Rossy (born 27 August 1959) is a Swiss military-trained pilot and an aviation enthusiast. He is known as the inventor of a series of experimental individual jet packs, the latest using carbon-fiber wings for flight. Often referred to as " ...
" who also used a "four-engine, carbon-Kevlar wing strapped to their backs". According to
CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
, the "wingsuit is powered by four mini jet engines.. ndallows pilots to control rotations around the yaw axis at zero speeds. Pilots can hover, stop, turn and maneuver, even performing rolls and loops". In February 2020, Reffet took off from the ground in Dubai, instead of from a helicopter or from a very tall building, as for previous flights; this was the first time that a ground ascent was achieved. The capability was made possible with a new "computerized stabilization system that allowed for hovering flight". The wingsuit was said to be able to reach an altitude of 6,000 feet and Reffet's top speed was estimated at 150 miles per hour. In order to land safely, he used a parachute. Prior to his death, Reffet made this statement to the news media about the benefits of the jetpack: "... when I am skydiving, I have like this feeling of freedom like I can pretty much go where I want, but always going down. utwith this machine I can fly like a bird".


Awards

In 2004, Reffet won the French free-fly championship in Vannes and the world free-fly championship in Boituva, Brazil, teamed with fellow Frenchman Fred Fugen. The "Soul Flyers" free-fly team of Reffet and Fred Fugen: *won the 2005 World Games in Duisburg, Germany, and the 2005 World Cup in Eloy, Arizona, United States; *won the 2006 World Championship in Gera, Germany; *won the 2008 World Championship in Maubeuge, France. In 2009, Reffet and Fugen won the free-fly World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. On 21 April 2014, Reffet and Fugen broke the Guinness World Record for highest BASE jump from a building, jumping from the
Burj Khalifa The Burj Khalifa (known as the Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration) is a megatall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, or just over half a mile) and a roof height (excluding the antenna, but inc ...
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reffet and Fugen conducted the jump with permission from the authorities and support from several sponsors. The two men jumped from a specially designed ramp constructed at the top of the building. On 13 October 2015, Reffet and Yves Rossy flew in formation with an
Emirates Emirates may refer to: * United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective ...
Airbus A380 The Airbus A380 is a very large wide-body airliner, developed and produced by Airbus until 2021. It is the world's largest passenger airliner and the only full-length double-deck jet airliner. Airbus studies started in 1988, and the pr ...
over Dubai.


Death

On 17 November 2020, Reffet died in a training accident in Dubai. The accident occurred during a jet powered wingsuit flight. Reffet became inverted in flight at a low altitude with his 4 engine jet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was not able to right his pack and did not open his parachute. He was killed hitting the ground at high speed.The TERRIFYING Last Minutes of Vince Reffet
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References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Reffet, Vincent 1984 births 2020 deaths French skydivers Sport deaths in the United Arab Emirates Sportspeople from Annecy Wingsuit flight deaths World Games gold medalists for France Medalists at the 2005 World Games Medalists at the 2009 World Games