Vincent Reffet

Vincent Reffet (15 September 1984 – 17 November 2020)[1] was a French BASE jumper, skydiver, and wingsuit flyer.

Vincent Reffet
Born(1984-09-15)15 September 1984
Annecy, France
Died17 November 2020(2020-11-17) (aged 36)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
NationalityFrench
OccupationSkydiver, BASE jumper
EmployerJetman Dubai

Biography

Career

Vincent Reffet was a professional parachutist. He completed 17,000 parachute jumps and 1400 BASE jumps. He began wingsuit flying 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.[1] According to The Guardian, in 2014, Reffet "BASE jumped off the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building at 828 metres (2,716ft), setting a world record".[2]

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" who also used a "four-engine, carbon-Kevlar wing strapped to their backs". According to CNN, the "wingsuit is powered by four mini jet engines.. [and] allows pilots to control rotations around the yaw axis at zero speeds. Pilots can hover, stop, turn and maneuver, even performing rolls and loops".[3][4]

In February 2020, Reffet took off from the ground in Dubai,[5] 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".[6] 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. [But] with this machine I can fly like a bird".[2][7]

Awards

In 2004, Reffet won the French free-fly championship in Vannes and the world free-fly championship in Boituva, Brazil,[1] teamed with fellow Frenchman Fred Fugen.[8]

The "Soul Flyers" free-fly team of Reffet and Fred Fugen:

In 2009, Reffet and Fugen won the free-fly World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[1][8]

On 21 April 2014, Reffet and Fugen broke the Guinness World Record for highest BASE jump from a building, jumping 828 metres (2,717 ft) from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[9][10] 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.[9]

On 13 October 2015, Reffet and Yves Rossy flew in formation with an Emirates Airbus A380 over Dubai.[1][11]

Death

On 17 November 2020, Reffet died in a training accident in Dubai.[3][12][13] The accident occurred during a motorized rigid wing flight.[14][15]

References
  1. "Vince Reffet - Soul Flyers" (in French). Soul Flyers. 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. "Dubai 'jetman' Vincent Reffet dies in training accident". The Guardian. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  3. Guy, Jack (18 November 2020). "Vince Reffet, 'Jetman' pilot, dies in training accident in Dubai". Cable News Network. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. "Dubai 'jetman' Vincent Reffet dies in training accident". The Guardian. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2020. The wings can fly 30 miles (50km), have a maximum speed of over 248mph (400km/h) and can reach an altitude of 6,100 metres (20,000ft).
  5. "The Road to Takeoff - Jetman Dubai". Youtube. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. "Extreme Flyer Vince Reffet Dies in Training Accident in Dubai". Youtube. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  7. England, Rachel (19 February 2020). "Watch jetpack pilot Vince Reffet set a new altitude record in Dubai". Engadget. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  8. "Fred Fugen - Soul Flyers" (in French). Soul Flyers. 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  9. Sampiero, Josh (23 April 2014). "BASE Jump Record Off the World's Tallest Building". Red Bull. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  10. "Highest BASE jump from a building". Guinness World Records Limited. 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. Evon, Dan (6 November 2015). "Fly Me to Dubai". Snopes Media Group Inc. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  12. "Vincent Reffet: French 'Jetman' dies in training accident". BBC. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. Kwai, Isabella (18 November 2020). "'Jetman' Who Flew Beside a Plane Dies While Training in Dubai". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  14. "Vince..." Paramag (in French). 17 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  15. Girard, Vincent (17 November 2020). "Breaking news : décès du Soul Flyers Vince Reffet". The Rider Post (in French). Retrieved 19 November 2020.
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