A new world record for a high jump from the stratosphere using a thermal airship was set in Altai Krai. The parachute jump by parachutist Sergey Boitsov from an altitude of 11.5 km was broadcast live.
This flight is dedicated to the International Youth Festival (IYF), scheduled for September 11 to 17 in Yekaterinburg. Sergey Boitsov, together with the thermal airship pilot Ivan Menaylo, who is a world champion and president of the Russian Air Sports Federation, broke the world record for the height of a jump from the stratosphere.
The starting point was chosen near the city of Aleysk in Altai Krai. During the jump, the freefall speed reached 500 km/h, and the air temperature at the start point was minus 59 degrees Celsius. Boitsov himself jumped from an altitude of 11.5 km, and the successful parachute deployment occurred at an altitude of 1,565 meters. The landing point was the Ust-Kalmansky district of Altai Krai.
Previously, the record for jumps from a thermal airship belonged to athletes from Poland and stood at 10 kilometers. Furthermore, thanks to the maximum altitude reached by the craft, a new national record for flight height was established. This record surpassed the achievement of Fedor Konukhov, who previously reached an altitude of 10,678 meters in Altai Krai with Ivan Menaylo in 2025.
According to Boitsov, who made the jump on August 15, this became one of the most vivid events of his life. He noted that the record descent from an altitude of over 11.5 km was the result not only of his diligent work but also of the efforts of engineers, pilots, and the entire project team. Boitsov emphasized the importance of the achievement being realized in Russia and using domestic equipment. He expressed joy at the opportunity to dedicate this success to his country before the State Flag Day and in support of the International Youth Festival in 2026, hoping that his example will inspire youth from all over the world.
Preparation for this record included an extensive testing program. With the participation of the state corporation 'Roscosmos', Boitsov underwent test ascents in a hyperbaric chamber at the Cosmonaut Training Center to an altitude of 12 kilometers. The team also tested the equipment at temperatures down to minus 60 degrees and practiced the athlete's actions in an aerodynamic tunnel.
A key feature of this project was the emphasis on technological sovereignty, as both domestic technology and equipment were used in the work. The International Youth Festival will bring together 10 thousand young leaders from 190 countries, including 5 thousand participants from Russia and 5 thousand from foreign countries. Additionally, one thousand teenagers aged 14 to 17 will participate in the festival under the motto 'Follow Your Dream.'