Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's a revolutionary wingsuit that could help humans soar. An Austrian wingsuit pilot has developed a specially designed foil wing that has helped him achieve sustained flight and gain in altitude for the first time. Red Bull athlete Peter Salzmann completed the feat above the volcanic cliffs of El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands, using rising air currents along a mountain ridge to stay airborne for 160 seconds. During his best ascent, he climbed 67 metres — a height roughly equivalent to a 22-storey building while completing multiple 180-degree turns and losing less than 200 metres of altitude overall. A typical wingsuit flight would lose roughly ten times that amount over the same duration. Wingsuit flying usually involves a controlled descent: pilots can glide, but gravity ensures a steady drop in altitude. It was this combination of conditions and equipment that made the difference. Salzmann used a custom foil wing designed to help him harness rising air and maintain a stable flight line. Standard wingsuits are unable to generate enough lift to hold altitude, prompting Salzmann to work on a new design. Working with Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Austrian wingsuit expert Andreas Podlipnik, he helped develop a fixed-style foil inspired by aviation and hydrofoiling. The achievement brings the possibility of sustained human flight without the need for an aircraft closer to reality.