Helicopter comercial liscence

I had always two dreams in my life, skydiving and flying helicopters! That was the reason why I started working on my helicopter liscence 2 years ago at Van Nuys Airport in L.A.

No it is time to improof my skills. I wanted to become a comercial helicopter pilot. Here are some shoots! I already have 5 hours on a Jet Ranger and did my first solo on that helicopter




















Me and Christian Gruber "Grufti" who is my teacher to accomplish the task!

Life is good

Summer is back in Austria and it is hot like hell! Perfect time to take my Harley and cool down at the lake!!



















...funny because I've met Uli Hartinger at the bar on lake Attersee! She started the RB Stratos program back in 2006..

Going home

We've made some very good progress on the Red Bull Stratos program the last couple weeks and now it is time to head home. Austria is calling and I have to work on my helicopter commercial license. " I will be back"






Going to my favorite breakfast place on Main Street






...that's how I like breakfast. Fruit plate, grapefruit juice and of course a big Italian latte






That's my place to hang out and recover from extensive day's of work...the Oceana on Ocean Ave








...Tough call to leave my toy in here in L.A.




... Yep and that one too!! :-(

First Capsule check with Cpt. Joe Kittinger

Joe is explaining the full life support system of our capsule








This is it! Joe " been there done that" Kittinger and me "never been there and not done that- YET!"

...long way home

Driving home from the shop. Those old farts reading my f'ing playboy magazine while I am working on my blog...it is okay, they deserve it!!

Chamber test at Beale Airforce BASE

Early morning call at 7 am at the hotel in Yuba City...I am not a morning person.




Classroom for 2 hours. Deputy Commander, Tom Bowen, is telling me everything about hypoxia, suit technology and physiology
















Getting dressed for pre-breathing




Leak-check on the suit and the helmet




Now I have to pre-breath for almost an hour to get rid of the nitrogen in my system




...paperwork like pretty much everywhere in the world of aviation




Last check at the pressure chamber before we are going up to a 130 thousand feet!!





The team of course controls everything from the outside.




...and the film crew is watching it.




I also took the chance to capture one moment from inside the chamber




...mission completed! Everybody was happy and we learned a lot today. Trust me, my body was telling me that humans were not made to be at 130,000 feet. It hurts and I really had to tough it out! But it will get better every time we go back into that chamber.

This is Felix Baumgartner, stand by...