Canon captures Red Bull wingsuit flight through Tower Bridge

Posted on May 14, 2024

Canon partnered with Red Bull to document the world’s first wingsuit flight through London’s Tower Bridge using a 24-camera setup

In an unprecedented event that blended the thrill of extreme sports with cutting-edge photographic technology, professional Red Bull skydivers Marco Fürst and Marco Waltenspiel completed the world’s first wingsuit flight through London’s iconic Tower Bridge.

The event was captured in its exhilarating detail by Canon, using 24 different cameras.

Launching from a helicopter at 3,000 feet, the duo known as ‘the Marcos,’ soared at speeds of up to 246kph, navigating between the bridge’s arches in a hair-raising manoeuvre.

Marco Waltenspiel and Marco Fuerst of Austria fly through Tower Bridge in London, Great Britain on May 12, 2024.

Image: Canon/Red Bull | Credit: Dominik Angerer

Marco Fuerst and Marco Waltenspiel of Austria fly through Tower Bridge in London, Great Britain on May 12, 2024.

Image: Canon/Red Bull | Credit: Joerg Mitter

Image: Canon/Red Bull | Credit: Alex Grymanis

Their descent involved a perilous freefall to 35 meters above the River Thames before executing a flare to ascend back to 80 meters — a necessary altitude to deploy their parachutes safely.

Canon utilised 24 cameras set up in 14 strategic locations to provide a truly riveting view of the white-knuckle ride.

These included the EOS R5, EOS R3, EOS C500 Mark II, EOS C300 Mark III, PowerShot V10, plus a number of different cinema and broadcast lenses.

Watch the video in full below:

Despite the fact that the stunt only lasted 45 seconds, the preparation for this historic flight was no small feat, involving two and a half years of planning and around 200 practice jumps.

A custom training ground was even constructed in Oxfordshire to mimic the dimensions of Tower Bridge, ensuring that every aspect of the jump was meticulously rehearsed.

Learn more about the stunt at the Red Bull website. Learn more about the gear that captured it at the Canon website.