YouTube Video: ‘Ascension’ David Blaine Rides Balloons to 25,000 Feet
If you ever wondered as a child just how many balloons it would take to get you off the ground, magician David Blaine may have the answer to that question.
Earlier today, Blane, world famous for acts of magic and other Houdini-like feats, performed his latest stunt. Holding on to a massive bunch of helium-filled balloons (around 50 big ones), he rose to 24,900 feet above Arizona before releasing and falling back to earth and landing with a parachute.
The entire event, dubbed David Blaine: Ascension, was filmed and streamed live on YouTube. You can watch a replay of the entire event below in this article.
The video begins with a look behind the scenes as Blaine prepared for the event with a look at the amount of preparation that was involved – including getting the OK from the FAA to enter into what is know as Class A airspace.
This is the airspace above 18,000 feet and is reserved for air traffic on an approved FAA flight plan – mostly airliners and jet traffic.
As the magician-turned-daredevil begins the climb, he is surrounded by cameras attached to himself and the balloons, along with a helicopter flying nearby to film him. The views are spectacular.
Blaine begins using special breathing exercises as he passes 12,000 feet to keep from passing out due to reduced oxygen at altitude.
At around 16,000 ft, the helicopter can no longer keep up.
Passing 20,000 feet, Blaine begins using portable oxygen and starts to accelerate his ascent.
The plan called for light winds to keep Blaine within about 3 miles of the landing zone. The idea was to keep him climbing as high as possible before he drifted any further away than that.
At the edge of the 3-mile point, and at altitude of approximately 24,900 ft., he releases himself from the balloons and begins a skydive toward the ground.
Opening a parachute around 7000 feet above the ground, Blaine makes a spectacular landing on the desert floor – very close to the airport from which he started his journey.
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