Riga: Ingus Augstkalns, a skydiver jumped off a 28-propeller drone belonging to a Latvia-based company Aerones in what was termed as the “world’s first drone jump” last week. He used the top of a 393-foot communications tower as a launch pad.
Augstkalns clung to handlebars suspended from the bottom of the aircraft as he rose to over 1,000 feet before letting go and deploying his parachute.
Aerones plans to use the powerful technology in fire-fighting, human rescue and sports broadcasts. The daredevil threw himself off a drone as it floated more than 330m in the air.
The drone, capable of lifting 200kg and reaching speeds of 150kmph, pulled Ingus away from the tower, where he was able to perform his own jump.
It took just seconds after the leap for parachute to open after the Latvian daredevil left the unmanned £28,000 craft.
“It was so much fun – like being in a playground in childhood,” Ingus said.
“Of course there were still risks in doing it the first time.
“Being lifted the first five meters was probably the most nervous moment, but the drone lifted me... and two seconds later I was under the canopy.”
Janis Putrams, the chief executive of Aerones, piloted the drone.
