HE DID IT!...Dove from the edge of space.

[Frankie]

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner Completes 17-Mile Dive

http://news.yahoo.com/skydiver-felix-baumgartner-completes-17-mile-dive-134525786--abc-news-tech.html

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/33089/skydivers+incredible+jump+from+stratosphere+spans+13+miles/

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

There seriously needs to be video of this.

edit... was in before second link

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Cool. :hmmm: What if he had broken apart though ;)

[tooge]

so this all happened in mid air then?

[Frankie]

There seriously needs to be video of this.

edit... was in before second link

I haven't watched that video yet, but I seriously doubt it shows today's jump. We'' probably see the actual jump in a discovery channel special or something like that.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

I haven't watched that video yet, but I seriously doubt it shows today's jump. We'' probably see the actual jump in a discovery channel special or something like that.

No it doesn't and actually it shows very little of anything jump wise. The take off looks really cool though.

[qabbaan]

Wow franky, this is a thread that does not suck. Congrats! :Poke:

[Canofbier]

How cool. Imagine how it must feel to stand in that balloon in space and see the Earth so far beneath you. It must be surreal.

[Canofbier]

That being said, I don't remember there being a dove in the gang.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7dY0T1f2T0/T202DHwvnII/AAAAAAAAC38/pXkSEX9eW8Q/s1600/Angry-Birds-Space-1.jpg

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

But can he jack off a pig !!!!

[Frankie]

But can he jack off a pig !!!!

No sir. This guy's achievement pales next to your bravery and prowess. After all he only went to the edge of space. You on the other hand go where no man wants to go.

:D

[loochy]

No sir. This guy's achievement pales next to your bravery and prowess. After all he only went to the edge of space. You on the other hand go where no man wants to go.

Some men want to go there. Have you ever ventured into the pictures forum?

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=250287

[Frankie]

No sir. This guy's achievement pales next to your bravery and prowess.[

On second thought, your achievement 'pails' next to his.

[ReynardMuldrake]

http://i.imgur.com/xwXs2.png

[suzzer99]

Nothing will ever be as cool as Joseph Kittinger walking out into space.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9MkB6NkQscI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[mikey23545]

Nothing will ever be as cool as Joseph Kittinger walking out into space.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9MkB6NkQscI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This may be the only time I will ever agree with you, but this x 1000


Joe Kittinger is a MAN.


Early life and military career

Born in Tampa, Florida, Kittinger was educated at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, and the University of Florida. After racing speedboats as a teenager, he entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1949. On completion of aviation cadet training in March 1950, he received a pilot rating and a commission as a second lieutenant. He was subsequently assigned to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing based at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, flying the F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre.

In 1954 Kittinger was transferred to Holloman AFB, New Mexico and the Air Force Missile Development Center (AFMDC). He flew the observation/chase plane which monitored flight surgeon Colonel John Stapp's rocket sled run of 632 mph (1,017 km/h) in 1955. Kittinger was impressed by Stapp's dedication and leadership as a pioneer in aerospace medicine. Stapp, in turn, was impressed with Kittinger's skillful jet piloting, later recommending him for space-related aviation research work. Stapp was to foster the high altitude balloon tests which would later lead to Kittinger's record-setting leap from over 102,800 feet (31,300 m). In 1957, as part of Project Manhigh, Kittinger set an interim balloon altitude record of 96,760 feet (29,490 m) in Manhigh I, for which he was awarded his first Distinguished Flying Cross.


Project Excelsior

Captain Kittinger was next assigned to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. For Project Excelsior (meaning "ever upward"), a name given to the project by Colonel Stapp as part of research into high altitude bailouts,[citation needed] he made a series of three extreme altitude parachute jumps from an open gondola carried aloft by large helium balloons.

Kittinger's first high-altitude jump, from about 76,400 feet (23,300 m) on November 16, 1959, was a near-disaster when an equipment malfunction caused him to lose consciousness. The automatic parachute opener in his equipment saved his life. He went into a flat spin at a rotational velocity of about 120 rpm. The g-forces at his extremities have been calculated to be over 22 times the force of gravity, setting another record. On December 11, 1959, he jumped again from about 74,700 feet (22,800 m). For that leap, Kittinger was awarded the A. Leo Stevens Parachute Medal.

Kittinger's record-breaking skydive

On August 16, 1960, he made the final jump from the Excelsior III at 102,800 feet (31,300 m). Towing a small drogue parachute for initial stabilization, he fell for four minutes and 36 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 614 miles per hour (988 km/h) before opening his parachute at 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Pressurization for his right glove malfunctioned during the ascent, and his right hand swelled up to twice its normal size. He set historical numbers for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest drogue-fall (four minutes), and fastest speed by a human being through the atmosphere.[8] These are still current USAF records, but were not submitted for aerospace world records to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).[citation needed]

These jumps were made in a "rocking-chair" position, descending on his back, rather than in the usual face-down position familiar to skydivers. This was because he was wearing a 60 lb (27 kg) "kit" on his behind, and his pressure suit naturally formed a sitting shape when it was inflated, a shape appropriate for sitting in an airplane cockpit. For this series of jumps, Kittinger was decorated with a second Distinguished Flying Cross, and he was awarded the Harmon Trophy by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Project Stargazer

Back at Holloman Air Force Base, Kittinger took part in Project Stargazer on December 13–14, 1963. He and the astronomer William C. White took an open-gondola helium balloon packed with scientific equipment to an altitude of about 82,200 feet (25,100 m), where they spent over 18 hours performing astronomical observations.

Later USAF career

Kittinger later served three combat tours of duty during the Vietnam War, flying a total of 483 missions. During his first two tours he flew as aircraft commander in Douglas A-26 Invaders and modified On Mark Engineering B-26K Counter-Invaders as part of Projects Farm Gate and Big Eagle. Following his first two Vietnam tours, he returned to the United States, and he soon transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. During a voluntary third tour of duty to Vietnam in 1971-72, he commanded the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (555 TFS), the noted "Triple Nickel" squadron, flying the F-4D Phantom II. Kittinger would also later serve as vice commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. During this period he was also credited with shooting down a North Vietnamese MiG-21.

Kittinger was shot down on May 11, 1972, just before the end of his third tour of duty. While flying an F-4D, USAF Serial No. 66-0230, with his Weapons Systems Officer, 1st Lieutenant William J. Reich, Lieutenant Colonel Kittinger was leading a flight of Phantoms approximately five miles northwest of the village of Thai Nguyen, North Vietnam, when they were engaged by a flight of MiG-21 fighter planes. Kittinger and his wingman were chasing a MiG-21 when Kittinger's Phantom II was hit by an air-to-air missile that damaged the fighter's starboard wing and set the airplane on fire. Kittinger and Reich ejected a few miles from Thai Nguyen and were soon captured and taken to the city of Hanoi. During the same engagement, Kittinger's wingman, Captain S. E. Nichols, shot down the MiG-21 they had been chasing.

Kittinger and Reich spent 11 months as prisoners of war (POWs) in the "Hanoi Hilton" prison. Kittinger was put through "rope torture" soon after his arrival at the POW compound and this made a lasting impression on him. Kittinger was the senior ranking officer (SRO) among the newer prisoners of war (those captured after 1969), and in John D. Sherwood's book, Fast Movers, he was described as having been in conflict with some of his fellow prisoners over his leadership style. He tried to keep the aggressive junior officers under his command from active resistance to their captors on the basis that it might result in more torture for the POWs. In Kittinger's autobiography "Come Up and Get Me" by Kittinger and Craig Ryan, Kittinger defended himself as being very serious about maintaining the military structure that he considered essential to survival. Kittinger and Reich were returned to American hands on March 28, 1973, and they continued their Air Force careers, with Kittinger promoted to full colonel shortly thereafter.

Later civilian career

Kittinger retired from the air force as a colonel in 1978, and initially he went to work for Martin Marietta Corporation in Orlando, Florida.

Still interested in ballooning, he set a gas balloon world distance record for the AA-06 size class (since broken) of 3,221.23 km in 1983. He then completed the first solo Atlantic crossing in the 106,000 cubic foot (3,000 m³) Balloon of Peace from September 14 to September 18, 1984. As an official FAI world aerospace record, it is (as of December 2008) the longest gas balloon distance flight in AA-10 size category (5,703.03 km). He participated in the Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning in 1989 (ranked 3rd) and 1994 (ranked 12th).

Kittinger lives in the Orlando area, and he was the Vice President of Flight Operations for Rosie O'Grady's Flying Circus, part of the Rosie O'Grady's/Church Street Station entertainment complex in Orlando, prior to the parent company's dissolution. Kittinger is still active in the aviation community as a consultant and touring barnstormer.

[frankotank]

so this all happened in mid air then?

OK...that's it! I gotta ask.....
I see it all the time and I know I missed out on the joke....
what's up with the mid air comments?
where did this come from?
how did it start?

why is it supposed to be funny?

[Bearcat]

OK...that's it! I gotta ask.....
I see it all the time and I know I missed out on the joke....
what's up with the mid air comments?
where did this come from?
how did it start?

why is it supposed to be funny?

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=247877

[Donger]

Meh. Been done before.

[frankotank]

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=247877

Ok....I can dig it.....
not a belly burster or anything though.
now...had the OP said "Passenger jet breaks in two in mid air"...that woulda been more belly burstive.

now....back to our regularly scheduled programming....

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Ok....I can dig it.....
not a belly burster or anything though.
now...had the OP said "Passenger jet breaks in two in mid air"...that woulda been more belly burstive.

now....back to our regularly scheduled programming....

or a midget busting a nut in mid-hump

[threebag]

Cool. :hmmm: What if he had broken apart though ;)

149 IQ points everywhere

[scho63]

That dude is so awesome!!!

So is this guy who used a bunch of roller baldes attached to his body to cruise down a mountain road in China at high speeds.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177376/Speed-demon-Daredevil-makes-1-000ft-mountain-road-descent-wearing-body-armour-equipped-31-skateboard-wheels.html

[LiveSteam]

Meh. Been done before.

Like 50 years ago

[Bowser]

He didn't even come close to breaking Kittinger's record. Play the "GO CRAZY, FOLKS!!!" card when he does.

Until then, nary a fuck was given.

[Hammock Parties]

Matt Cassel should give this a try.

[Donger]

Like 50 years ago

Yep:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9MkB6NkQscI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I can't even begin to imagine the courage it took to make that step out of the gondola.

[LiveSteam]

Yep:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9MkB6NkQscI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I can't even begin to imagine the courage it took to make that step out of the gondola.

Oh shit I was not paying attention I thought that vid was today's event. I read some of what he said about that jump 1/2 a century ago & how at first he thought he was being sucked out into space & was as good as dead.
I agree he had lots of guts

[Setsuna]

WTF are these mid air jokes from?

[LiveSteam]

WTF are these mid air jokes from?

fart in the bathtub & bite the bubbles and you will find the answer

[Frankie]

He didn't even come close to breaking Kittinger's record. Play the "GO CRAZY, FOLKS!!!" card when he does.

Until then, nary a **** was given.

Ok here's where I get confused. This guy was supposed to break Kittinger's record. So I thought today's jump was it. But it looks like..."...this was only a practice jump for Baumgartner, who is working toward the ultimate goal, as part of the Red Bull Stratos project, of skydiving from 23 miles above earth and breaking the sound barrier."

[notorious]

That guys balls are so fucking big you can see them from space. JFC

[el borracho]

Ah, so this is what my friend was filming.

[SPchief]

Ok here's where I get confused. This guy was supposed to break Kittinger's record. So I thought today's jump was it. But it looks like..."...this was only a practice jump for Baumgartner, who is working toward the ultimate goal, as part of the Red Bull Stratos project, of skydiving from 23 miles above earth and breaking the sound barrier."

So basically you read a headline, believe it, then post it without reading it?

[SPchief]

So basically you read a headline, believe it, then post it without reading it?

My bad, you read the article and got confused, but still posted it.

[Frankie]

So basically you read a headline, believe it, then post it without reading it?

No. Unlike you I am aware of some stuff going on in the world. I knew about and awaiting this man's upcoming attempt at breaking the record. Under such circumstances it's not that difficult to mistake this for the said attempt. I quickly read the first article and added the second article LATER to the thread header. THAT article is the one that contained the quote I posted. So I hope this explanation makes your day blissful.

:rolleyes:

[notorious]

17 miles? Why didn't he just break the record?

[frankotank]

WTF are these mid air jokes from?

ROFL

that ship has already sailed. and not very far above your post either....

[Spicy McHaggis]

Nothing will ever be as cool as Joseph Kittinger walking out into space.

I've always been fascinated by Kittinger. I've actually got a print of the Project Excelsior jump on my wall.

[Donger]

Less well-known as Kittinger but just as crazy:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VkcSsZttuxg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[tooge]

This makes me wonder, is there a definitive point where gravity will propell you towards erarth, or is it a broader gradient of gravity, whereby you would very slowly start moving towards earth, and then pick up speed as you went until you were really hauling ass at 182 feet per second? Anyone?

[Reerun_KC]

The golden age of this country was something to behold.

[Donger]

This makes me wonder, is there a definitive point where gravity will propell you towards erarth, or is it a broader gradient of gravity, whereby you would very slowly start moving towards earth, and then pick up speed as you went until you were really hauling ass at 182 feet per second? Anyone?

Yes.

[tooge]

Yes.

C'mon Donger. Yes? which is it? It can't be both. Either you hit a certain point, like falling through a glass floor, or you just slowly start moving at millimeters per minute until you start to be able to feel yourself moving. Which is it?

[Donger]

C'mon Donger. Yes? which is it? It can't be both. Either you hit a certain point, like falling through a glass floor, or you just slowly start moving at millimeters per minute until you start to be able to feel yourself moving. Which is it?

You didn't really say two different things in that post. It's been a while and I'm going from memory, but I believe what you want to look up are Lagrangian points.

[beach tribe]

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=247877

The Mods kind of killed the joke for new readers when they changed the thread title.

[Inspector]

fart in the bathtub & bite the bubbles and you will find the answer

Hey, that didn't work.