Skydiver to jump from 25 miles up

The Sunday Times (UK) ^ | October 21 2001 | Paul Ham, Sydney

[aculeus]

Gravity sucks.

[NYS_Eric]

The unofficial world record for the highest skydive was set at 102,000ft by Joe Kittinger, an American, in 1960.

This record still stuns me. I remember reading about it a couple of years ago. Extreme bravery or extreme death wish.

[LurkerNoMore!]

I thought 'vitim of circumstances' might be interested in this...

[gcruse]

Millner began intensive training for the jump in July.

What do you suppose his intensive training included?  Looking real hard
out the window of a clothes dryer?  Timed climbing-out-of-a-basket?
Looking down?  Staying warm?  Pinin' ?

[dighton]

The Longest Leap

[DouglasKC]

He appears undaunted by warnings from scientists that the descent through near-space could be so fast that his head will explode.

If I had a nickel for everytime somebody told me something would make my head explode I'd be a rich man.

[Tacis]

I'm betting that his widow will sue the parachute manufacturer because the 'chute will be found torn to ribbons; the airplane driver for not preventing him from jumping; that owner of the land on which he splats for maintaining a dangerous landing zone; and scientists for not clearly explaining the law of gravity. At least the baloon guys, who always fail, leave themselves some room for failure. What is that Indian guy's name that he is supposed to yell?

[daedal]

It's not the gravity that stinks, it's the solid mass of rock associated with the gravity.

[Houston Owl]

No, they won't sue...the are in Australia, not America.

[NYS_Eric]

Thanks for the link. Looks like the colnel made a career out of bravery.

[Amore]

Coincidentally, Kittinger is a balloonist too.

[SERKIT]

Man-High

This was the Air Force Project for high altitude parachute experiments.

[dighton]

Museum now bookmarked. Thanks.

[spectr17]

Rodd Millner, 37, hopes to freefall for six minutes before opening his parachute and touching down within 30 miles of Ayers Rock in central Australia. He said: "A man in space has never achieved this, but research indicates the transition will be safe and smooth." He appears undaunted by warnings from scientists that the descent through near-space could be so fast that his head will explode.

This guy might want to research the Russian dude who didn't find the fall so safe and smooth. He's in a cemetary outside of Moscow somewhere.

[Mark Turbo]

GERONIMO!!!

[Johnny B.]

This guy might want to research the Russian dude who didn't find the fall so safe and smooth. He's in a cemetary outside of Moscow somewhere.

Did they bury him there, or is that just where he landed?

[Trailer Trash]

I hope he has one of these

.....*

[Ole Okie]

What is that Indian guy's name that he is supposed to yell?

Dunno, but he's buried at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

There's a little town named Geronimo south of Fort Sill and Lawton. Do that ring any bells?

[spectr17]

Did they bury him there, or is that just where he landed?

It's actually a pretty good bounce. From my feeble recollection, they scraped up enough of the guy to bury him.

[abner]

For his part, Millner insists that the dive is not a stunt, but a scientific experiment. "It's extreme science," he said.

Yea, right. . .

Thanks for the flag.