Magician David Blaine has completed his latest daredevil stunt this week, called “Ascension”.
Now live on his YouTube channel, the video shows Blaine floating over the desert in Page, Arizona, piloting 52 helium-filled balloons at an altitude of roughly 8,000 feet.
The full clip clocks in at just under three hours on YouTube, and begins with the warning, “This is a research and development flight test demonstration.”
Check out the video here:
Blaine narrated the experience through his own mic for the duration of Ascension, liaising with a team on the ground as he rose up to 15,000 feet. The magician let go of the balloons once at 24,900 and descended via parachute, landing near an airport.
He explained that his latest stunt was inspired by a French short film from 1956 called Le Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon).
Ascension was originally planned to take place in New York, where Blaine is originally from, on August 31. The stunt was then relocated to Arizona due to weather conditions and further safety concerns.
