Craziness.....

U.S. Air Force, Col. Joe Kittinger steps off a balloon-supported gondola at an altitude of 102,800 feet. In freefall for 4.5 minutes at speeds up to 614 mph and temperatures as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit, he opened his parachute at 18,000 feet. This was a 1960 test of high altitude ejection from aircraft. The airforce wanted to know if a pilot could survive ejection at extreme altitudes.



Col. Joe Kittinger, 1960



Felix Baumgartner is aiming for an altitude of 23 miles, just over three miles higher than Kittinger attained in 1960. And he hopes to break the sound barrier; Kittinger fell just shy of that.

Baumgartner is aiming to jump from 120,000 feet, or 23 miles. Kittinger plunged from 102,800 feet, or 19.5 miles.

Baumgartner expects to accelerate to 690 mph in order to break the sound barrier, or Mach 1, somewhere between 102,000 feet and 107,000 feet up. Kittinger was clocked at a maximum 614 mph, equivalent at that altitude to Mach 0.9.

Baumgartner will ascend in a pressurized capsule hoisted by a 30 million-cubic-foot helium balloon, 335 feet tall when inflated. Kittinger rode an open, unpressurized gondola that was lifted by a 3 million-cubic-foot balloon, 184 feet tall when inflated.



Felix Baumgartner, 2012



Baumgartner will wear a custom-made full-pressure suit. Kittinger wore an Air Force standard partial-pressure suit. He was initially claustrophobic in his suit and had counseling to overcome his anxiety.

Even though I am a pilot, I find skydiving boring. It is just falling, there is no skill, just controlling the shut once it is open. I know a lot of people do it for the thrill, but I can care less, but each is to their own.....

Joe Kittinger did have balls to do this in 1960. It was for a purpose and showed that a pilot could survive the free fall if the pressure suit worked. Of course Kittinger nearly died in a jump and two others have died attempting to break this record.