Record For High Altitude Jump

[msg-84]

In recent days you may have heard of an Australian Commando who plans to jump from a hot-air balloon in order to set the record, for a High Altitude Jump, and that he also plans to be the first man to break the sound barrier without an aircraft.

The media is incorrect in reporting that he will be the first man to do this...

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/eagles/kitt-3.jpg

Check out: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/eagles/kittnger.htm

A year or two ago, I saw a History Channel program on Project Man High - it was very good, and worth viewing if they show it again. I was amazed at how humble Col. Kittnger is given the things that he did during his time in the service. He turned down a chance to be an Astronaut to serve in
Vietnam, and never sought glory for his actions.

Then, consider how this Australian guy is hyping himself up, and he has yet to make the jump.

It is consistent with JSOCMarine's theory that real heros don't need to talk themselves up to be validated.

Semper Fi
msg-84




[This message has been edited by msg-84 (edited 03-13-2001).]

[Viking]

Discovery is having a special on this right now. Started off with extreme ballooning, and talked for 15 minutes or so about the 103,000 foot jump. That is some SHIT right there! Great camera shots for being back in the day.

[Doogie320]

COL Kittenger has the record for the highest jump but not the highest "freefall" since he used a drogue to stabilize him. The highest "pure" freefall is from around 85 or 86K by a Russian guy.

This in no way detracts from the COL's ginormous man sack to make such a jump, it is more of a technicality for the record books and purists.

When interviewed he'd rather talk about his ballooning accomplishments after he retired than the jump.

[Billy L-bach]

Cheryl Stearn is working on something called "StratoQuest"

The StratoQuest plan is for Cheryl Stearns to pilot a specially built helium balloon, ride in an open gondola, and free fall back to earth, to acquire necessary data to create the “smart” space suits. The approximate time to the target altitude of 110,000′ is about 2 ½ hours. At the target altitude, Stearns will detach her external life support systems and leap from the gondola into the near-vacuum of the Stratosphere. During Stearns’ free fall, her body will be in a 70 degree attitude (head-down position) for stability. Stearns will maintain the 70 degree attitude until she assumes a more normal face-to-earth skydiving position at approximately 60,000′ Above Ground Level (AGL). Her descent will take approximately 4 minutes. At 7,000′ AGL, Stearns will deploy her parachute and with cooperation of navigation calculations, atmospheric, wind, & equipment conditions, steer herself to the designated landing zone.


I first heard of this from Will Charette back in 2003. Mr Charette was the first Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Special Forces Training Group High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Committee. Mr. Charette was a member of the Joint Army/USAF HALO Test Team in the early 1960’s that established much of the HALO training and operations doctrine still in use today. He also participated in the record breaking 43,500 foot jump to establish a world record “FAI Class G-II-C, group of nine with delayed fall”. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation in the HALO Test Program and his subsequent use of HALO insertion techniques. He NOW has MFFI #500 40 years after leaving his job as the NCOIC of the committe.


...at least thats what I heard

[Sinister Dave]

Billy, hooah, "Squeek" Charette is the real deal. Stearns has been trying to get sponsors lined up to finance this jump for years. I think it's a heap of self-promotion. I hope she gets her backing, but I doubt it.

My foggy memory (and I have been away from it for years) is the PACOM record is 37,200 feet from a USMC VMGR-152 KC-130 over Naval Air Station Agana, Guam. Jumpers were from SFODA 136, ODA 126, the Recon guys at Camp Hansen, the Special Operations Weather guy, a couple of riggers, and the Kadena Physiological Training Flight.

I was the JM and SFC John Macdonald was the A/JM. We busted ODA 126's previous 35,000 foot record set from a C-141.

[sarc88]

I've got a clip of Col K's jump if anyone wants it PM me. It's 3.36mb - might go thru normal email. It's a must have

[Billy L-bach]

Mr Charette had quite a few interesting 'HALO' stories from his younger years when I met him. He is a realy interesting guy to have dinner with!

[Billy L-bach]

...sarc88

PM inbound

[sarc88]

File's too big - here's the link:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/42263/the_speed_of_sound/?rd=40dd3ae4d0f1d9f3918df062f2e2b222b887f8f043d300 15

Sorry about that - I overestimated Verizon's email capabilities!

[KJ]

That's pretty damn high SD. The highest I ever got was a measely 28k. :(

[SN]

I've got a clip of Col K's jump if anyone wants it PM me. It's 3.36mb - might go thru normal email. It's a must have

I would love to have a copy of Col K's jump.

e-mail addy's are:

cbtwxman@aol.com

or

scholtenb@gimail.af.mil

thanks
sn

[Atekomi]

I would love to have a copy of Col K's jump.

e-mail addy's are:

cbtwxman@aol.com

or

scholtenb@gimail.af.mil

thanks
sn

Sarc88 says the file is too big to send out. Try this link http://www.metacafe.com/watch/42263/the_speed_of_sound/?rd=40dd3ae4d0f1d9f3918df062f2e2b222b887f8f043d300 15