If you've never heard the name Philippe Petit, you need to quickly fix this mistake, because he is one of the best magicians out there. He has walked in the sky without using any sort of visual illusions.
On August 7, 1974, the whole world was left awestruck when Petit successfully walked across a rope between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York... an entire 8 times.
Of his historical achievement Petit said, "At the top of the World Trade Center my first step was terrifying.
Suddenly, the density of the air changed, Manhattan lay sprawling in its boundlessness. The noise of the city changed to a roar and I felt its fearsome power. I lifted the balancing pole. I came closer to the edge. I crossed the beam."
The height above the ground at which Philippe Petit walked was 1348 ft (411 m), equal to a 110-story building. The magician made a full 8 passes across the rope in 45 min.
Petit's successful experiment broke dozens of US laws but despite this the more serious allegations toward him were dropped.
He was ultimately sentenced to community service, where he performed for children in Central Park, New York.
The French-born Petit fell in love with the art of magic when he was just 6 years old. While still young he joined a circus troupe, where he began with magic tricks, while later he started to juggle.
But his life's passion became tightrope walking. He was self-taught in this discipline but at just 16 years of age he walked a rope 1312 ft (400 m) above the ground.
Philippe Petit's magic is genuine proof that even impossible things can happen. He will continue to be an inspiration for generations to come and his story inspired the plot of the 2015 film The Walk.
