Subject:      Re: High Speed Ejection
From:         danw@atlantic.net
Date:         1996/07/08 
Message-Id:   <4rs1l0$b0t@news.atlantic.net >
References:   <31DDC464.C0B@EriNet.com >  <4rl1qa$49e@dfw-Ixnews6.ix.netcom.com > 
Organization: Internet Connect Company +1(352)375-2912, USA
Newsgroups:   rec.aviation.military
 

 

ahdobyns@ix.netcom.com(Albert H Dobyns) wrote: 
 >In 31DDC464.C0B@EriNet.com
 > greg smith  < n8ppz@EriNet.com
 > writes:
 >
 >
 >
 >Question.  I am sure Mary will answer this (grin)  Was wondering what the  
 > >highest speed recorded survible ejection has been?  Has anyone ejected  
 >from an SR-71 at cruising altitude and speed and live to tell about it?  
 > I know some idiot jumped outta a high altitude balloon once I may be  
 >wrong but it seems like 80,000 jumps out at me.  But they guy had a  
 > "COLD" suit on and had a 40min oxygen supply. 
 > 
 >Any takers? 
 >Grego 
 Perhaps the "idiot" you referred to in your post is legendary balloonist Joseph W. Kittinger. In 
1960, Kittinger, who later would be the first to solo the Atlantic in a helium balloon (1984), left his research 
balloon at an altitude of over 102,000 feet.  His free-fall of 84,700 feet is listed in Guinness as the longest free-
fall on record. The program was called Project Excelsior and it was an early step into the unknown "space 
age". Last I heard, Kittinger was head of the "Rosie O'Grady" balloon team in Orlando, FL. 
Concerning George Smith:  He was indeed the first pilot to make a bail-out beyound the speed of sound and 
survive.  He woke up five days later, and flew again.