Sat, Jan 13, 2007
Col. Joseph Kittinger Holds Record For Highest Parachute
Jump
Colonel Joseph W. Kittinger,
USAF-Ret., will be honored by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) when it
renames its Austin, TX-based TX-352 squadron in his honor during a
special ceremony on January 23 at Austin-Bergstrom International
Airport. Kittinger holds the longstanding record for the highest
parachute jump in history, from 102,800 feet, achieved on August
16, 1960.
Then-Captain Kittinger, test director of the Project Excelsior
government research project, piloted a gas balloon to the high
altitude and jumped from his open capsule in -94 degree F
temperatures above the New Mexico desert. He reached the speed of
sound as he sped through the stratosphere in a four minute,
thirty-seven second free-fall before opening his parachute at
17,500 feet and continuing safely to earth.
The historic 15-minute journey became known as the Long Lonely
Leap, and heralded the beginning of the manned space-race.
Kittinger is the subject of two books, The Long Lonely Leap and The
Pre-Astronauts. He also served multiple tours as an F-4D Phantom II
pilot in Vietnam and was one of the few Air Commandos to score a
victory over a MiG-21.
Toward the war's end he was shot down and spent 11 months in the
Hanoi Hilton. Kittinger also holds many aviation and aeronautical
records, including the first solo crossing of the Atlantic in a
balloon in 1984.
The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at TxDOT Flight Services, 10335
Golf Course Rd. in Austin. The program will include film footage
and several speeches by CAP members, as well as a patriotic lecture
by Colonel Kittinger. The public is invited to attend the free
event.
More News
Light Gun A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower controller. The color and type of>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: JAARS, Inc. For decades now, we’ve landed planes on narrow rivers and towering mountains. We’ve outfitted boats and vehicles to reach villages that rarely se>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]
Aircraft Conflict Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 na>[...]