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Extreme Performer David Blaine Just Performed an Up-Inspired Ascension off the Arizona Desert and It’s Amazing!

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Have you ever seen a stunt so amazing, you’d drop whatever you are doing just to watch it? Well, the recent David Blaine UP stunt above the Arizona desert (that’s right! “Above” the desert) will surely glue you in! The extreme performer performed an ascension and it is super cool! Watch him soar new heights with the Up-inspired stunt.

This David Blaine Up Stunt Involved 52 Colorful Balloons Stacked 50 Feet High

David Blaine Up stunt ascension

Source: Youtube

The extreme stunt is particularly thrilling. Why? We get to see a man fly into the air while holding onto a few balloons. It is as simple as it sounds. But wait, don’t you think that scene looks awfully familiar? If you’ve watched the movie “Up,” then whatever it is you are thinking is correct! This stunt is inspired by that.

David Blaine planned to hold on to balloons before safely parachuting back to earth. Of course, he didn’t use ordinary balloons for this extreme stunt. Instead, Blaine had specially designed helium-filled balloons attached to a harness so he can easily float high into the sky. According to the plan, he should reach his flight’s apex at about 18,000 feet above the Arizona desert. Then, once he got high enough, he can already cut himself loose and parachute to safety.

The balloons used were stacked 50 feet high. A special mechanical payload “balloon” is also included and it is technically an experimental aircraft. As you may have guessed from the title, this David Blaine UP stunt is aptly called “Ascension.” It is also very “Up”-like although there is no old man or the young scout.

One Can Say This Is a Very Ambitious and Revolutionary Feat

David Blaine Up stunt amazing

Source: Youtube

While there are certainly hot balloon rides you can look forward to when you come to Arizona during the Lake Havasu Balloon Festival, we bet not everyone can say, “Oh, I’ve been to Arizona and did a death-defying, Up-inspired stunt.” That is why this event is particularly thrilling! In fact, to prepare for this one, David Blaine had to secure a license as a hot-air balloon pilot.

If you are not familiar with the 47-year-old illusionist, he is actually famous for high-endurance feats. He once buried himself alive in an underground, water-surrounded box for seven days. Aside from that, he also encased himself in a block of ice for several hours in Times Square.

Look at the video to see the helicopter shots of him against the landscape. It is pretty impressive! But if you really want to be scared beyond disbelief, you should check out the shots from Blaine’s point of view. His balloon was rigged with some cameras so you can really look at the intricacies of his flight. Those who are not fond of going high above the ground will be scared once they see the shots!

You can only guess what the extreme performer was thinking about during his ascension. Was he scared? Or perhaps, was his mind flooded with horrible possibilities or problems that might arise from his stunt? Did he think soaring up above the desert was a wrong idea? Well, we sure hope he wasn’t just anxious about missing the strap. The David Blaine Up stunt turned out to be fantastic and magical. He even had time to take a few short and very sweet phone calls with his young daughter, who was watching him from the ground.

The Secret To the David Blaine Up Stunt

Arizona view David Blaine stunt

Source: Youtube

We already mentioned that the performer used a special mechanical payload “balloon” that is technically an experimental aircraft. In the video, you can see that everything was covered including the planning stages. The technical details were also mentioned so the viewers would know what to expect from the video, and also understand how the plan unfolded.

David Blaine used an oxygen tank to helped him breathe. This is to compensate for the thinner air as he climbed steadily up above the Arizona desert. But he’s not the only one who needed help breathing. You will surely hold your breath watching Blaine cut himself loose from the balloons. After all, he was thousands of feet above the ground. Just look at the land below him. He is literally soaring high.

ascension stunt amazing

Source: Youtube

Many people were amazed by his seemingly “non-human” tolerance to withstand the cold temperatures. The Navy S.E.A.L.-esque breathing techniques worked wonders because he successfully warded off hypoxia, the dangerous condition in which a body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level.

Once he landed back on the ground, you will feel David Blaine’s happiness from completing his extreme stunt! He was all smiles to the cameras surrounding him, and even flashed “I did it!” hand gestures and thumb signs.

Check out the video of the Ascension below

Since being streamed live last September 3, 2020, the David Blaine Up stunt now has over 19 million views. Talk about being watch-worthy!

What do you think of the extreme stunt? If you love looking at places from up above, then you will love the drone videos that will give you the aerial views of the most beautiful places in Arizona! You will also be amazed when you check out the Grand Canyon’s vast nature that you can actually see it from space. 

A writer big on nature, travel, and dogs. If you can't find Errot with her furry pal, then she's probably out exploring.

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