New parachute record attempt

[jmorgan]

Chap tries to go higher than Joe Kittinger. Remember reading about him when I was still in shorts and thinking WOW!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1690...


Better not forget the camera.

[Jasandjules]

Holy s**t.

[Simpo Two]

Second sentence in and they just can't help the sensationalist 'oh god if the thing breaks he'll die' cheap TV thing:

'where a leak in his pressurised suit could lead to a rapid loss of consciousness'

'if there is a serious breach in the suit, Mr Baumgartner's tissues would start to swell and the moisture in his eyes and mouth would start to boil.'


And if his parachute doesn't open he'll make a big hole in the ground. Yes, we know.

[jmorgan]

They do come across as such at times but maybe the readers need a prod to think about it. Tis a bit like saying jump in a river and you will get wet.

[Simpo Two]

jmorgan said:

They do come across as such at times but maybe the readers need a prod to think about it. Tis a bit like saying jump in a river and you will get wet.

Sadly yes. I bought a pair of binoculars last week and in the copious 'Warning' section was one that said not to swing it on the strap because you might hit someone accidentally and they might be hurt...

It didn't say you couldn't use it as a knuckleduster though.

[TheHeretic]

Well, the reference to the Leo in the suit is pertinent, especially considering that Kittinger had a Leo in his suit. Still, the chap has balls bigger than other balls of a smaller size. Good luck to the chap.

[marcosgt]

jmorgan said:

They do come across as such at times but maybe the readers need a prod to think about it. Tis a bit like saying jump in a river and you will get wet.

To be fair, it's not THAT obvious.

The point is he's jumping from SUCH an altitude that all sorts of things that don't normally apply to parachuting come into play.

I must admit that I found this the most (only) interesting item in today's news - Real 'adventure' stuff!

Good luck to him! Hopefully it'll be on Youtube (although some loser will no doubt post "You're Ghey" directly after it as they ALWAYS do - What is WRONG with people on Youtube? Genetic malfunction or something?).

M.

[R300will]

I'm sure a guy has jumped out of a balloon at a height similar to that before now and has broken the sound barrier. Yes?

[TheHeretic]

R300will said:

I'm sure a guy has jumped out of a balloon at a height similar to that before now and has broken the sound barrier. Yes?

You haven't read the article, or the thread, have you?

[R300will]

TheHeretic said:

R300will said:

I'm sure a guy has jumped out of a balloon at a height similar to that before now and has broken the sound barrier. Yes?

You haven't read the article, or the thread, have you?

I read the article, it said he would be the first man to go supersonic but i'm sure i heard of a man doing it yonks ago. I assume kittenger?

[rxtx]

Kittinger had a drogue chute for stabilisation and reached "just" 614 miles an hour.

I just looked it up because I was also under that impression

[jmorgan]

marcosgt said:

To be fair, it's not THAT obvious.

Aye, well, maybe people do not know that with height the pressure drops and are not aware planes are pressurised for a reason and 120,000 the air is pretty thin, thinner than my hair.

[Eric Mc]

rxtx said:

Kittinger had a drogue chute for stabilisation and reached "just" 614 miles an hour.

I just looked it up because I was also under that impression

I certainly read that Kittinger went supersonic too. The thing is, back in 1960 or so, there was probably no way of tracking him accurately as he fell so that his true speed could be calculated.

[R300will]

Eric Mc said:

rxtx said:

Kittinger had a drogue chute for stabilisation and reached "just" 614 miles an hour.

I just looked it up because I was also under that impression

I certainly read that Kittinger went supersonic too. The thing is, back in 1960 or so, there was probably no way of tracking him accurately as he fell so that his true speed could be calculated.

Could work it out if you knew his drag coefficient and the air pressure from his maximum altitude to the bottom

[TheHeretic]

What is the speed of sound at the pressures he will be flying though. Is there a relation to the increase in SOS and the increase in his terminal velocity due to that pressure change?

[garos]

jmorgan said:

Aye, well, maybe people do not know that with height the pressure drops and are not aware planes are pressurised for a reason and 120,000 the air is pretty thin, thinner than my hair.

Yep, I think I recall kittinger saying that when he jumped there was no noise, practically no air resistance, think it freaked him out, no wonder.

[Eric Mc]

R300will said:

Eric Mc said:

rxtx said:

Kittinger had a drogue chute for stabilisation and reached "just" 614 miles an hour.

I just looked it up because I was also under that impression

I certainly read that Kittinger went supersonic too. The thing is, back in 1960 or so, there was probably no way of tracking him accurately as he fell so that his true speed could be calculated.

Could work it out if you knew his drag coefficient and the air pressure from his maximum altitude to the bottom

I think a knowledge of air density at 100,000 feet was required and I'm not sure how well that was known back then.

[pacman1]

Sure I read that one of the US military guys tried this high altitude malarky, his breathing apparatus froze and he regained consciousness just in time.

Providing his suit doesn't leak, I'd say the main danger he faces is his oxygen supply freezing up.

Edited by pacman1 on Tuesday 7th February 21:03