French skydiver gets green light for historic jump

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Canada (AFP) — French skydiver Michel Fournier readied Monday to leap from a balloon on the outer reaches of the stratosphere and plunge 40 kilometres (25 miles) to earth on Canada's western plains.

The 64-year-old parachutist has said it is his life's dream to make the record jump, which will begin at a point four times higher than the cruising altitude of a commercial jet.

"Based on the weather forecast, he has received the green light," Bernard Desgeorges, one of the managers of the French team, told reporters shortly before 4:30 am (1030 GMT). "All the necessary equipment is now being moved into place."

Journalists were being invited to the local airport to be briefed about the latest developments, according to the parachutist's website...