Why would you???????????

[Gil Boyd]

When there are professional parachute makers around the world to ensure you hit the ground safely why would you do this, beyond believe?

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[rcathey]

I can understand the massive thrill that must be.
Now...what I don't understand...spectators and reporters. Why on Earth would you care to watch that???

[browningautorifle]

Anything to get into the record books and escape anonymity after you go. Even a miss ensures you live on in record...think about it.

[Gil Boyd]

Jim,
I noticed a brown patch on his backside of his overalls too. That gathering would have paid good money to watch him kill himself, but as you say "why would you go to it"

[WarPig1976]

Pffft, I could do that if my knee wasn't bothering me right now and I wouldn't even wear a sissy helmet.

[Gil Boyd]

Always remember though, if the helmet had the International Safety Standards applied to it at the time of manufacture, it would save his life if he missed the net

[30Three]

Absolutely mental!

[Ovidio]

My father, over 3000 jumps, always told me “have all the fun you want, but stop doing BS below 600 meters”.
From there on, look for a safe spot to land on and hit it as accurately as you can. Sooner or later, that might save you.
With less than 100 jumps I went with dad and a few other experienced skydivers to a festival. We had to jump and land in a soccer field.
Fierce wind came up at the very last moment. The only two entering the field (hitting the centre) and landing smoothly were dad and me. All the other had to land in the surroundings, and one broke his arm.
I can understand thrill and badassism, did lots of stupid things myself, but skydiving is a serious business, and also (often) considered politically incorrect.
There is no need for fueling the idiot’s arguments and for giving us all such an image.
But maybe I’m old now...;-D

[shadycon]

Don't disappoint the spectators!! He missed!

[Sunray]

Why would you jump out of a perfectly good, non-burning/crashing, aircraft in the first place?
Luke Aikins does that kind of daft stuff because he's 45 and is having his midlife crisis. This is the guy who jumped from mid-tropospheric altitude(7 to 20 km) without his umbrella and lived. He apparently gets paid to do it too.