BMW's Electrified Wingsuit

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 New Form of Personal Air Mobility



Source:  BMWi


BMW's Electrified Wingsuit to Fly In

BMW has designed, developed and tested the world's first all electric wing suit that enables a person to fly at speeds up to 186 mph. The revolutionary alternative means of travelling was developed by BMW in partnership with Designworks.  The flying suit began as a concept three years ago created by 33 year old Austrian Peter Salzman, who is a skydiver, paragliding instructor and wingsuit pilot.  BMW, Designworks and Salzman have taken the concept to new heights. The apparatus took three years to develop and is designed to showcase BMW's expertise in electrification.

Successfully Tested Over the Alps

The BMW wingsuit is electric powered with two chest mounted, carbon propellers delivering 20 horsepower for five minutes. There are two main parts.  It consists of a suit with wing like pieces of fabric and an electric drive unit that contains the propellers.  It weights about 28 pounds. The wingsuit is not just a concept on a drawing board. It has been successfully tested by Peter Salzman over the Alps.  

Soaring Like an Eagle

Salzman was dropped from a helicopter at 9,900 feet above the Alps and fortunately the wing suit worked with him flying like an eagle. Salzman safely parachuted in for a landing. The apparatus can accelerate to speeds that Batman would envy - 186 mph versus a conventional wing suit's maximum speed of 62 mph.  No word if BMW will put their wingsuit into full production for adventurers and extreme sport enthusiasts to enjoy. Salzman and the team continue to develop the technology.  Also of note:  the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is currently soliciting wingsuit proposals to develop for the US military.




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