Wingsuit Flying
Three of the world’s top wingsuit flyers just jumped from a helicopter above Lebanon’s highest peak and took flight over the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Cedars Forest and Qadisha valley.
Ever wondered what the stunning landscapes of Lebanon look like from the vantage of a wingsuit flyer? Well, watching the resulting video from this project means you won't have to BASE-jump from the door of the helicopter any time soon, so check it out now and continue reading to find out how the whole thing happened.
With one epic vision in mind, French wingsuit flyers Fred Fugen, Vincent Cotte and Aurélien Chatard went to Lebanon to try something that had never been done before. Guided by two teams (one on the ground and another in the air), the trio hovered over the Mount Lebanon range of peaks – including the country’s highest mountain of Qurnat as Sawda' (3,088m), which is also known as The Black Peak.
"It was magnificent to be able to start a jump that high in the mountains and above the Cedars, and then ending up deep down the canyon," said Fugen after completing the flight. "Opening the parachutes between two cliffs, and landing at the end of the valley was a real rush. It was all full of colours, full of sceneries that blend together, which all make for the beauty of that place."
As with all extreme wingsuit flying, wind is always the challenging factor because there's always the chance that a strong gust could blow the flyers off course. And due to the team’s low altitude over the mountains, this one proved to be a very technical jump to complete. The group often passed just metres above the ground, as they headed down towards the valleys below, much to the surprise of the mountain villagers below.
The soundtrack for the whole thing comes courtesy of Adonis. The four members of the Lebanese band were inspired by the wingsuit athletes’ flight and produced an exclusive cinematic version of their 2021 song, Men Ajmal Ma (the Prettiest Sight). You can listen to the original track and find out more about the quartet here.
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