British Nasa scientist Angelo Grubisic, 38, dies in horror wingsuit jump in Saudi Arabia

A BRITISH Nasa scientist has died in a base jumping accident in Saudi Arabia, his family has confirmed.

University of Southampton professor Dr Angelo Grubisic, 38, had been taking part in the jump on Tuesday when he was killed.

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One of his former pupils described the highly regarded scientist as a "real life rocketman who was a fantastic lecturer and inspiration to us all".

His family told the BBC that Dr Grubisic was "phenomenally talented".

They added: "Angelo lost his life doing what he loved the most, wingsuit base jumping.

"And we want to ensure his achievements and ambitions are known to the world and to celebrate the mark he made on all of our lives.

"Angelo captivated the hearts and minds of every single person who was privileged to meet and work with him.

"'The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long' has never rang more true to the family and friends Angelo had across the world."

Crowned British wingsuit champion in July, he had carried out hundreds of jumps, in a sport combining skydiving and hang gliding.

It involves leaping from an aircraft or from a very high altitude and gliding through the air while wearing a specially designed suit, with webbed wing surfaces, which helps to prevent the diver from free falling.

WORKED WITH NASA

Dr Grubisic joined the Astronautics group at the University of Southampton in 2013.

The university described him as a specialist in the development and testing of advanced propulsion systems for spacecraft.

According to its website, "over the last eight years, Dr Grubisic has worked extensively with the European Space Agency and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the development of advanced propulsion technologies."

He provided a "working industry engineering knowledge and methodologies".

Dr Grubisic was also collaborating "closely with industry, including Surrey Satellite Technology Limited in the development of resistojet propulsion systems".

Based in the engineering and physical sciences faculty at Southampton, he had been lecturing in Astronautics and Advanced Propulsion.

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ICARUS PROJECT

Last year, the aerospace engineer told Ontario Tech University that his goal was straightforward - to try to fly faster, higher and further than any human.

He told the institution that sometime in the next couple of years, he intended to make the highest-ever altitude jump by leaping from a plane more than 12km (40,000 feet) above the ground.

In the process, he was hoping to establish the highest speed travelled in a wingsuit (as fast as 400km per hour) and set a world record for the longest wingsuit flight (more than 10 minutes), despite a minus 100C wind chill.

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Dr Grubisic told Ontario Tech: "That’s quite challenging to do when you’re put into the lower stratosphere. We’re not made for those conditions. It’s a very alien environment.”

The daunting and historic mission was dubbed the ‘Icarus Project’, of which he was the test pilot.

According to Southampton University, this challenge involved developing the "world’s first scientifically engineered wingsuit to set world records for human flight using powerful computer fluid dynamics resources and wind tunnel facilities.

"These records include the highest altitude and highest speed wingsuit jump while travelling the furthest total distance in the longest ever wingsuit flight."

In September last year, the scientist showed off his jetpack at Bournemouth Air Festival, but plunged into the sea when an engine on his arm ignited.

Pictures showed flames shooting out of a turbine engine attached to his right arm as he flew at a height of 20ft.

DEATH OF FELLOW THRILLSEEKER

Dr Grubisic died just over a year after his good friend plunged hundreds of feet to his death while base jumping in the Swiss Alps.

Robert Haggarty, 47, was on the second jump of the day in Italy's Monte Civetta range, when he crashed "uncontrollably" moments after singing Happy Birthday to his pal.

An inquest in January heard that the engineer, who had completed 500 jumps, died from unsurvivable injuries after failing to clear a cliff edge.

Dr Grubisic told the inquest: "It was my birthday... he was in good health. Rob was always a very conservative jumper, always taking great care with his gear."

TRIBUTES TO 'INSPIRATION'

Among those paying tribute to the researcher was the Southampton Formula Student Team, which said on Twitter: “The whole team would like to pass on their condolences to the friends and family of @AngeloGrubisic who sadly passed away yesterday.

“You were an amazing lecturer and an inspiration to us all. Fly high Angelo. ‘If you’re not doing what you love, then you’re the crazy one’.”

Southampton aeronautics and astronautics graduate Nathan Vosper tweeted: “Incredibly sad news that one of my favourite lecturers when I studied at @unisouthampton, @AngeloGrubisic has passed away.

“A fantastic lecturer & inspiration for us all. A real life rocketman. Fly easy up there.”

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