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Austrian wingsuit athlete Marco Waltenspiel raced between hot-air balloons over Türkiye's Cappadocia region at around 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour after jumping from a balloon at an altitude of approximately 2,800 meters (9,186 feet).
Waltenspiel, who heads the Red Bull Skydive Team, turned balloons flying at different heights into a slalom-style course, weaving between them while adjusting his route to shifting wind conditions.
A wingsuit is a specialized flying suit designed with fabric between the arms and legs, allowing athletes to glide through the air after jumping from high altitudes.
Because wind conditions differed at each altitude, Waltenspiel had to repeatedly recalculate his approach as he closed in on the balloons.
“In wingsuit flying, you always move together with nature. But during this project, we encountered different wind conditions at every altitude,” Waltenspiel said.
He added that each approach required him to work out a new route and make the right decision within seconds.
Waltenspiel described flying through Cappadocia's distinctive landscape as one of the most memorable experiences of his career.
Fellow Red Bull Skydive Team athlete Marco Furst joined the flight as aerial coordinator, helping to keep the operation synchronized while both athletes adapted to the changing weather.
“This project required not only speed but also flawless coordination,” Furst said, adding that they had to follow each other while continuously adapting to the conditions.
Furst said the preparations behind the flight were as striking as the resulting images.
Waltenspiel previously flew directly over an active volcano in a wingsuit in 2015. In 2024, he and Furst became the first athletes to fly through London's Tower Bridge.
Cappadocia, in central Türkiye, is internationally known for its distinctive rock formations, underground cities and sunrise hot-air balloon flights.
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