Vincent Reffet facts for kids

Vincent Reffet (born 15 September 1984 – died 17 November 2020) was a French adventurer. He was known for his amazing skills in BASE jumping, skydiving, and flying with a special wingsuit. He was also a "jetman," using a jet-powered suit to fly through the air.

Vincent Reffet's Amazing Career

Becoming a Professional Skydiver

Vincent Reffet was a professional parachutist. He completed an incredible 17,000 parachute jumps. He also did 1,400 BASE jumps. BASE jumping means jumping from fixed objects like buildings, antennas, or cliffs. He started wingsuit flying in 2002. A wingsuit is a special suit that lets you glide through the air like a bird.

World Records and Jet-Powered Flights

Vincent was also a parachute instructor. He was a "Jetman" pilot and a licensed private pilot. In 2014, he set a world record. He BASE jumped off the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. This is the world's tallest building, standing 828 meters (2,716 feet) high.

He also flew a special jet-powered wingsuit. This suit was developed by Jetman Dubai. It had four mini jet engines. This allowed pilots to fly, hover, and even do loops in the air. Vincent was a student of another famous jet daredevil, Yves Rossy.

Flying from the Ground Up

In February 2020, Vincent achieved something amazing. He took off from the ground in Dubai using his jet-powered wingsuit. Before this, jetmen usually started their flights from helicopters or tall buildings. This ground take-off was possible because of a new computer system. It helped the wingsuit stay stable in the air.

The wingsuit could reach an altitude of 6,000 feet. Vincent's top speed was about 150 miles per hour. To land safely, he used a parachute. Vincent once said about his jetpack: "With this machine I can fly like a bird."

Awards and Achievements

Championship Wins

Vincent Reffet won many awards during his career. In 2004, he won the French free-fly championship. He also won the world free-fly championship in Brazil that same year. He teamed up with his friend Fred Fugen for these wins.

The Soul Flyers Team

Vincent Reffet and Fred Fugen formed a team called "Soul Flyers." They won many competitions together:

• In 2005, they won the World Games in Germany.
• They also won the World Cup in the United States in 2005.
• In 2006, they won the World Championship in Germany.
• They won the World Championship again in France in 2008.
• In 2009, they won the free-fly World Games in Taiwan.

More Incredible Feats

On 21 April 2014, Vincent and Fred broke a Guinness World Record. They made the highest BASE jump from a building. They jumped 828 meters (2,716 feet) from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. They had permission from the authorities for this jump. They used a special ramp built at the top of the building.

On 13 October 2015, Vincent Reffet and Yves Rossy did another amazing flight. They flew in formation with an Emirates Airbus A380 airplane over Dubai.

Vincent Reffet's Passing

Sadly, Vincent Reffet died on 17 November 2020. He was involved in a training accident in Dubai. The accident happened during a flight with his motorized rigid wing.

See also

In Spanish: Vincent Reffet para niños