The iPhone 4 is indestructible. There, I said it.

OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but if one can survive a 1000-foot drop from an aircraft without a parachute, then it certainly takes the notion of rugged to a whole new level.

US Air Force Combat Controller Ron Walker, who works as a skydiving Jump Master, told website iLounge how, while airborne, he leant out of the aircraft door to look for landmarks. His iPhone slipped out of his pocket and plunged Earthward.

He thought that was the end. Bye-bye, mobile.

The super phone itself

However, after sharing the story with colleagues, he was advised to try the Find my iPhone app to see if he could locate the shattered carcass - at least to try and recover any important contact data. It turns out the phone was a couple miles away in a woodland area.

Within an hour, Walker recovered his phone and was shocked to find it in full working order without even a scratch or a smidgin of dirt. According to the professional parachutist, the handset was protected only by a Griffin Motif TPU case and an aftermarket metal backing, although he reckons foliage and pine needles may have been the real cause for the phone's survival.

OK, so it's not a superman cell, and yes it can be destroyed - just look at what artist Michael Tompert does with his Apple products - but it is impressive nevertheless. Say what you will about Apple, but it's hard to break its appeal - and its mobiles, apparently. ®