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October 28, 2014

Airborne 10.27.14: New Freefall Altitude Record, NBAA14 Wrap-Up, Falcon AOG

Also: New ALPA Officers, Hurricane Hunters, Aventura AVW, New Runway at Copiah County, LTC Tom Dougherty Flies West

Only 2 years ago, Felix Baumgartner set a record for the highest parachute jump when he stepped out of his Red Bull sponsored gondola hanging beneath a gas filled balloon at 128,100 feet. This record was broken last week when a computer scientist named Alan Eustace parachuted from an altitude of 135,890 feet. During his descent, it’s reported that Eustace reached a speed of 822 miles per hour. The NBAA’s 2014 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition organizers are reporting that,

"This mission enabled research critical to achieving NASA's goal of long-duration human spaceflight in deep space. Investigations in the returned cargo could aid in the development of more efficient solar cells and semiconductor-based electronics, the development of plants better suited for space, and improvements in sustainable agriculture." Source: Sam Scimemi, director of the International Space Station division at NASA Headquarters.

A published altitude representing the maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment.

USMC/Combat Helicopter Association

During the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1975, helicopter crews were able to locate their fellow Marines on the ground by asking them to "pop a smoke" in the landing zone.