Record-seeking skydiver makes 13-mile test jump

Associated Press ^ | 3/15/2012 | Marcia Dunn

[U-238]

Skydiving daredevil Felix Baumgartner is more than halfway toward his goal of setting a world record for the highest jump.

Baumgartner lifted off Thursday for a test jump from Roswell, N.M., aboard a 100-foot helium balloon. He rode inside a pressurized capsule to 71,581 feet — 13.6 miles — and then jumped. He parachuted to a safe landing, according to project spokeswoman Trish Medalen.

He's aiming for nearly 23 miles this summer. The record is 19.5 miles.

"The view is amazing, way better than I thought," Baumgartner said after the practice jump, in remarks provided by his representatives.

Thursday's rehearsal was a test of his capsule, full-pressure suit, parachutes and other systems. A mini Mission Control — fashioned after NASA's — monitored his flight.

Baumgartner reached speeds of up to 364.4 mph Thursday and was in free fall for three minutes and 43 seconds, before pulling his parachute cords, Medalen said. The entire jump lasted eight minutes and eight seconds. She stressed that the numbers are still unofficial.

[U-238]

Joseph Kittinger still holds the record.He set historical numbers for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest drogue-fall (four minutes), and fastest speed by a human being through the atmosphere.

[U-238]

Kittenger is currently advising Felix Baumgartner .

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks U-238. And the most risky thing I’ve done lately is drive on 28th St.

[ErnBatavia]

'Zactly....been there, done that.

[Ecliptic]

Why is it called a jump?? It’s really a gravity induced fall.
LOL

[scripter]

I jumped from 13,500 feet...once... and it was tandem. It was the most fun I ever had, just need to do it more often.

I had it video taped and they dubbed in Van Halen's 'Jump'. Maybe I'll go again when my kid turns 16.

[jmacusa]

Joe Kittenger! You beat me to it.

[mylife]

I saw Kittengers jump on TV the other day.
Terrifying.

[goseminoles]

Talk about pucker factor... I don’t like getting on a ladder. My crazy days are over..

[gortklattu]

I have hundreds of jumps, so wish to tell you something.

Relative work - where jumpers hook up with each other - - is one of the most fun things in life. I loved to jump last. You have to catch up to the other jumpers and to do so would go into a dive that would speed you past 200 mph. It was the biggest rush imaginable.

Good luck to this jumper. That’s a LONG time to fall.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Joseph Kittinger still holds the record...

[gortklattu]

They don’t use those front mounted reserve chutes any more. Mine worked for my only malfunction, thank God. They’ve all gone to twin packs on the back.

[mylife]

My crazy days are over too.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Has there been video of this test jump posted anywhere?

[mylife]

And he did it with a leak in his pressure suit!
His hand swelled to double its normal size.

He looked like HDS when he was recovered on the ground.
(Hammered Dog S***)

[scripter]

I was the first of about 14 into the plane so I was the last out. While standing half inside and half outside the plane, I asked the instructor if anybody chickened-out at that point. As he said 'no' we both jumped. What a thrill! I remember looking back at that perfectly good plane and realized I jumped out of it (or was pushed)! :-)

Definitely want to do it again.

[hadaclueonce]

I feel off a 100 foot ladder once...

Thank god I was only on the second step!

[U-238]

Here is a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvRG7LzKcDA

[doorgunner69]

Both crazy mofo’s with much larger huevos than I............

[U-238]

I would do it in a heart beat. Anything to get that adrenaline going