PARACHUTE JUMPS OF 17 MILES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27733, 10 August 1955, Page 13

PARACHUTE JUMPS OF 17 MILES

U.S. Air Force Plans (Rec. 10 p.m.)

DAYTON (Ohio), Aug. 8. The Air Force today announced preliminary plans for high-ajtitude balloon flights with parachute jumps from heights greater than any yet made.

A spokesman for the Wright Air Development Centre said jumps from a balloon at heights ranging up to 90.000 feet were planned at Holloman Air Force base, New Mexico, for “early next year.” The present world altitude record is 72,395 feet. It was established in the balloon Explorer II in 1935, in an ascent sponsored by the National Geographic Society and the United States Army Air Corps. A spokesman said the new jumps were designed to help scientists develop a stabilised ejector seat that could be shot from high-flying jets, and to learn how far a man could safely jump through rarefied air before using a parachute. Under the-, present plans, one man would jump at the top of the ascent, opening his parachute at a lower altitude. The other would cut the balloon adrift and ride the balloon’s gondola down to about 20,000 feet before jumping. A special parachute would recover the gondola and instruments. The jumpers would wear pressure suits and carry other specially designed equipment.