Peter Salzmann Breaks World Speed Record with 347 km/h Wingsuit B.A.S.E. Jump
Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann has made history by reaching a top speed of 347 km/h during a wingsuit B.A.S.E. jump over the North Face of the Eiger in Switzerland. Captured by the world’s fastest camera drone, Salzmann’s flight shattered the previous record of 340 km/h, marking a groundbreaking achievement in extreme sports.
On Tuesday,19 August, the 38-year-old Salzburg native launched from a narrow ledge known as the ‘Ecstasy Board’, 3,713 metres above sea level. Flying 2,073 metres down into the valley in a specially developed wingsuit, Salzmann completed a 35-second free fall, landing safely at 1,640 metres before celebrating the feat. For comparison, Formula 1 cars reach a top speed of around 320 km/h at the Red Bull Ring, putting Salzmann’s accomplishment in perspective.
35 Seconds of Free Fall
Salzmann hit his top speed after about 20 seconds, exceeding the previous record of 340 km/h for seven seconds. A tracker built into his wingsuit, combined with a radar gun, provided precise measurements of his speed and trajectory. The flight demanded absolute body control, precision, and focus.
“Every little movement determines whether you can finish the flight cleanly. It’s absolute body tension, total control – and the knowledge that you can’t afford to make any mistakes,”.
Salzmann said
A Challenge for Man & Machine
The jump was filmed by a drone from the Dutch Drone Gods, developed to race against F1 World Champion Max Verstappen. Flying vertically downward at extreme speeds presented a new challenge for both pilot and drone.
“Trust in the drone and the pilot was extremely important, because at these extremely high speeds there is no room for error,” .
Salzmann explained
“Turbulence behind the wingsuit made it a challenge to maintain a stable image at over 340 km/h. The drone was also at its absolute limit.”
Drone pilot Ralph Hogenbirk noted the technical difficulty:
Pushing Boundaries with Innovation
Salzmann collaborated with manufacturers, tested multiple wingsuits, and worked with Red Bull Advanced Technologies to optimize posture, aerodynamics, and speed.
“Even a minimal difference can add several kilometres per hour. That’s what makes this sport so extreme: the smallest nuances determine success or failure,”.
he said
“The record is confirmation that with innovation and hard work, we can keep pushing boundaries. I’ve always been driven by the question: how fast can you really fly?”
Key Facts
- Location: Eiger North Face, Switzerland – ‘Ecstasy Board’
- Jump Height: 3,713 metres
- Landing: 1,640 metres in Alpiglen, Grindelwald
- Height Difference: 2,073 metres
- Time in Free Fall: 35 seconds
- Maximum Speed: 347 km/h (over 340 km/h for 7 seconds)
- Max Vertical Speed: 263 km/h
- Max Horizontal Speed: 288 km/h
- Previous Record: 340 km/h
Peter Salzmann’s record-setting flight proves that in wingsuit B.A.S.E. jumping, precision, innovation, and courage can redefine what is possible in the skies.
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