Pic:Predrag Vuckovic / Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records can today confirm that Austrian Felix Baumgartner's supersonic sky dive has set five world records.

The aerospace pioneer, aided by the Red Bull Stratos team, tested the physical limits of mankind yesterday, when he became the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall.

The 43-year-old also set new records for the highest freefall parachute jump (both FAI-sanctioned and unsanctioned), the highest vertical speed in freefall and the greatest freefall distance.

More than eight million people tuned in online to watch the feat, also setting a new record for the most concurrent views of a live stream on YouTube.

The attempt saw Felix jump from a capsule taken to the centre of the stratosphere above New Mexico by a giant helium balloon.

The adventurer plummeted to earth with an attributed speed of 833.9mph (1,343km/h), hitting Mach 1.24.It took nine minutes for him to reach the ground.

Guinness World Records officials were on the ground at the attempt site in Roswell, with Felix presented with a GWR certificate to mark his achievement following his safe return to earth.

In a nice piece of serendipity, Felix's incredible sky dive came on the same day as the 65th anniversary of another pioneering aerospace event - Chuck Yeager's flight in the experimental Bell X1 in 1947 which set the world record for the first ever supersonic flight.

However, Colonel Joe Kittinger's record of 4 minutes and 36 seconds for the longest ever freefall which was set in 1960 eluded Felix, with the Austrian recording a shorter freefall time of 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

"On the step, I felt that the whole world is watching," Felix said following the jump.
"I said I wish they would see what I see. It was amazing."

Click below to watch headcam footage of Felix's incredible leap into the history books.