|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2008 13:50:20 GMT 12
Last week on 3 News there was an item in which a british ex-SAS soldier is to attempt to break the record set in 1960 for the highest skydive ever. He was shown doing a practice jump from about 32,000 feet, and the aircraft he jumped from (despite being in the UK) had ZK- registration and was either a Fletcher, Cresco or more likely a PAC750XL thingy (why don't they find a proper name for these machines?)
How many Hamilton built aircraft operate in the UK on our rego I wonder?
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 14:58:36 GMT 12
Ithought the highest skydive was from a balloon at at over 100, 000 feet
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 15:01:53 GMT 12
On August 16, 1960 he made the final jump from the Excelsior III at 102,800 feet (31,330 m). Towing a small drogue chute for stabilization, he fell for 4 minutes and 36 seconds reaching a maximum speed of 614 mph (989 km/h) before opening his parachute at 18,000 feet (5,500 m).
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2008 15:29:19 GMT 12
Yes, he was just practicing. He will eventually jump from a balloon. Have you seen the film of that 1960 jump? Real cool.
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 15:55:25 GMT 12
probably saw a bit years ago, but I should have another peek. It's probably on you tube
|
|
|
|
Post by Brett on Mar 6, 2008 17:24:30 GMT 12
At least two.
ZK-JQK with Hinton Skydiving Centre in Stean.
ZK-KAY with Skydive Northwest in Kirkby.
Both PAC 750XL's.
Cheers,
Brett
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2008 13:47:24 GMT 12
Cheers, must have been one of those two
|
|
|
|
Post by flycookie on Mar 7, 2008 16:49:23 GMT 12
Beagle forgot to mention the 1960 record holder's name - Joe Kittinger, USAF. It was part of the prelim escape tests for the US space programme. I think he later flew Phantoms in Vietnam.
|
|
|
|
Post by yak2 on Mar 7, 2008 16:52:31 GMT 12
There is a great description of this and other amazing parachute related stories in a book called the Caterpillar Club.
|
|
|
|
Post by rotoruian on Mar 9, 2008 5:45:28 GMT 12
|
|
