dmeyer@burst.csc.ti.com (Dane Meyer) (04/17/91)
Gang, I just noticed this note on sci.space that I thought you might be interested in. I have read several accounts of Kittinger's jump and some others that did not fare so well. High altitude skydiving is very complex, expensive, and high risk. But like anything else, it can be done given the right equipment, preparation, and level headed people. I really enjoy reading about these adventures. Dane Meyer dmeyer@ti.csc.com P.S. Hi Ken. Saw one of your postings here recently. Blue skies, bud. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 25436 in sci.space: From: nraoaoc@nmt.edu (Daniel Briggs) Subject: Skydive from Space Message-ID: <1991Apr16.115042.8563@nmt.edu> Date: 16 Apr 91 11:50:42 GMT Reply-To: dbriggs@nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs) Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM Lines: 23 Here's a fun little tidbit that I thought sci.space'ers might appreciate. It's from the "Maybe You've Heard" column in the April _Skydiving_ magazine. "Plans have been announced for an October attempt to set a high altitude freefall record. The project, dubbed "Skydive from Space" by its New York promoters, calls for British jumpers Harry Taylor and Nish Bruce to jump from a balloon floating 120,000 ft. over Texas. The world record freefall is from 80,630 ft. (Joe Kittinger's famous jump from 102,800 feet wasn't a real freefall since he was stabilized by a drogue during part of his descent.)" Sounds like fun, eh? BTW, that shot at Kittinger's record strikes me as a bit nitpicky. Certainly most skydivers refer to an ordinary tandem jump as "freefall", and that is also drogue stabilized. It's obviously just a matter of definition, though. Likewise, 23 miles may not fit normal definitions of "space", but it's certainly getting pretty close! -- This is a shared guest account, please send replies to dbriggs@nrao.edu (Internet) (505) 835-2974 Dan Briggs / NRAO / P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM / 87801 (U.S. Snail)
SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG (SKYDIVE) (04/24/91)
Reply-to: Bill.Caefer@p0.f853.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Caefer) Fido-To: uiucuxc!burst.csc.ti.com!dmeyer U> Gang, U> I just noticed this note on sci.space that I thought you might be U> interested in. I have read several accounts of Kittinger's jump and U> some others that did not fare so well. High altitude skydiving is U> very complex, expensive, and high risk. But like anything else, it U> can be done given the right equipment, preparation, and level headed U> people. I really enjoy reading about these adventures. First: Being in the April issue I'd suggest you look down at your legs and see if they aren't maybe being pulled a little. Second: Yes, high altitude jumping (along with other oddball types) is great fun. Ask me sometime about riding a broom. Lodi (or some other NoCal DZ) does monthly High Altitude jumps from (I think) 25K or whatever they can get in the King Air. Anyone qualified (basically a chamber ride and $65) can go. --- msged 2.07 --- eecp 1.45 LM2 * Origin: Unclear to some (1:102/853) -- SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13 (ehsnet.fidonet.org)