Oct

14

Video: 24 Mile Freefall

Filed Under Science & Nature | 35 Comments

This guy’s the Evel Knievel of the new millennium:

Felix Baumgartner, a 43-year-old former military parachutist, floated for two hours in a purpose-built capsule towed by an enormous helium balloon before leaping into the record books from 128,000ft – almost four times the height of a cruising passenger airline.

He broke the current freefall record of 19.5 miles held by Joe Kittinger. Mr Kittinger, who set his record in 1960, is the only person allowed to communicate with Mr Baumgartner while he is inside the capsule which will carry him into space.

He broke the sound barrier on the way down.

Here’s the best impression of the Obama economy I’ve ever seen:

Comments

35 Responses to “Video: 24 Mile Freefall”

  1. Granny55 on October 14th, 2012 7:33 pm

    This guy is nuts!!!

  2. archer on October 14th, 2012 7:56 pm

    WAY TO GO FELIX!!

    GREAT JOB!!

  3. archer on October 14th, 2012 8:02 pm

    That’s what they said about Galileo, Lewis and Clark, transcontinental railroad builders, Columbus, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, etc. etc. etc.

  4. SignPainterGuy on October 14th, 2012 8:46 pm

    I watched the live feed from around 74,000' at The Blaze and left it open until the Press Briefing, which cut out – Flash crashed – and I couldn`t find it again, just replays of the jump.

    I enjoyed watching the balloon fill until it was round and they had to vent some helium. After that, the ascent slowed, sped up, stalled. During the pre-jump checklist, I suspected Felix was getting nervous; he didn`t respond to commands right away. As he scooted up to the door, getting ready to step out, my feet and legs tingled (NO, not like Chrissy`s) from thoughts of the height. Gee whizz !

    Three records were set:

    Highest Balloon flight / highest jump – 128,100'
    fastest descent – 833 mph / mach 1.2
    longest descent time –

    Kinda like baseball; long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of pure rush !

    Great job, Felix, team and Red Bull !

  5. jeffythequick on October 15th, 2012 12:03 am

    The difference between bravery and stupidity is…

    …outcome!

    If Felix did the Wile E. Coyote into the New Mexico landscape, he'd be an idiot, but since he made it, he's brave!

  6. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 1:15 am

    I will say this; it looked like he ordered his toys from ACME`s DELUXE catalog !

  7. jeffythequick on October 15th, 2012 7:54 am

    O/T on the debates.
    How does Obama prep go?
    BO: Let's get a list of things I've done over the last 4 years…What do you guys have?
    Axelrod: more rounds of golf played than the first 30 presidents combined?
    Carney: We took care of that Benghazi thing throwing youtube under the bus.
    Neapalitano: We welcomed more immigrants into our country, legal or not!
    Gibbs: We brought ABC, CNN, CBS, and NBC closer to the true news leader, MSNBC!
    B. Clinton: Just find a woman in the audience and tell her that you feel her pain.
    H. Clinton: We're loved everywhere, especially North Africa! Wait, I have to go. The heat is on, so I'm going to disappear, and wonder why damning evidence against me suddenly pops up when asked by Congress. See ya all!
    B. Clinton: See you at the Cheney bunker, honey!
    All: See you after the election!
    Cutter: Blame it all on Mitt Romney!
    B. Clinton: Hey baby, what are you doing after this? How about a few minutes as the chief of staff?
    BHO: So… we got… nothing?

  8. jeffythequick on October 15th, 2012 12:34 pm

    Here’s the best impression of the Obama economy I’ve ever seen:

    Well, Felix did have a soft landing… that's the difference. In the Obama economy, he is giving the guy anvils.

  9. Truesoldier__ on October 15th, 2012 1:05 pm

    Speaking of the debate tomorrow I predict that the viewing audience will be around 10 million or less. Similiar in size to the VP debate but far lower than the first Romney/Obama debate. I believe this for the following reasons:

    1) Nearly 70 million people tuned in to the first Romeny/Obama debate to see the two of them go toe-to-toe. This time there is nothing to really drive it for the average person.

    2) The numbers we saw in the VP debate represent those of who are political junkies and would watch C-SPAN all day if givene the choice.

    3) Early voting. What would normally help Dem's may very well hurt them this time around. How many voters in how many states are already casting their ballots due to early voting? They saw the first debate and made up their mind based on that one perfomrance and have voted. This will lead them to see it as no point watching any other debates as they have already cast their vote.

  10. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 1:14 pm

    Good analogy. And he`s also tossing anvils to the drowning man.

    I was very impressed with Felix`s "soft landing"; as smooth and tangent as stepping off an escalator !

  11. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 1:29 pm

    Interesting thoughts on the viewership. The numbers appear to me to exclude the online viewers. C-SPAN was my choice and will be again; less fluff. Several commenters at Weasel Zippers commented on Martha Raddatz`s looks; I had to wonder if they were watching a different channel with more camera angles or if their comments were just way late posting – C-SPAN didn`t show her except at the end (I missed the first 3-4 minutes).

    I personally can`t give election officials the temptation to fiddle with my early vote !

  12. Truesoldier__ on October 15th, 2012 1:33 pm

    Not to mention, the equipment Felix used was top notch; whereas everything in Obama's arsenal comes from the ACME discount rack.

  13. Truesoldier__ on October 15th, 2012 1:35 pm

    I feel the same way. The longer election officials have your ballot the more likely they are to loose it. But what about the average voter? How many of them look upon voting as just one more chore to get out of the way instead of viewing it as the priveledge that our founders bestowed upon us?

  14. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 1:46 pm

    If you have ever been around racing and seen Red Bull`s sponsorship in action, you know they don`t do anything short of trying to be the best.

    Barry`s folks deal with the junk wholesalers, the stuff with "Quality" in its name. If you have to tell people it`s "quality stuff", you can bet it isn`t !

  15. Truesoldier__ on October 15th, 2012 1:50 pm

    Reminds me of this line in Tommy Boy:

    Ted Nelson, Customer: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?

    Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of shit. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.

  16. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 1:55 pm

    "… just one more chore….."; precisely. So many of my friends don`t want to be bothered;
    one vote doesn`t matter
    I hate to stand in line
    I don`t know the people down-ballot
    there`s no difference between the parties

    Obama took NC in `09 by 14,000 votes, very possibly because of Rs thinking their one vote didn`t matter.

  17. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 2:09 pm

    My Dad did work for a hardware dealer who sold "quality tools" and loved that Dad would take a good part of his payment in trade. When I took over the biz, I told the dealer that I`d do his work, but I had to raise prices and I only bought tools I couldn`t predict would break the first time I put them to the test.

    His store is going out of biz now because too few people want junk, at any price.

    Dad bought $30. home-owner quality jig saws that went up in smoke in a month. (I often have jobs that have me running it for hours on end) $50. saws last 6 months. A $100. one lasted a year, just past the warranty. In about `85, I bought a $180. Makita professional grade jig saw that I am still using and it works great.

    Rush just mentioned that Obama went to a golf resort to prep for the debate and his handlers wouldn`t let him take his clubs. THE HORRORS !!

  18. Truesoldier__ on October 15th, 2012 2:29 pm

    OMG!!! You mean he had to use loaner clubs!!!!

  19. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 2:42 pm

    IF he played, YES ! Can you just hear the whining ?

  20. Truesoldier__ on October 15th, 2012 2:49 pm

    You know it. I could see it now….

    Obama (in a very whinny voice): Michelle, it just isn't fair. I am at one of the greatest courses there is and they won't let me play (stomps foot).

    Michelle: Now Barrack, you know it is for your own good. If you loose this debate many are saying it is over and if you think I am going back to flying coach on the same plane as you…then you better think again.

    Obama: But it just isn't fair!

    Michelle: I'll tell you what. If you get back to studying and can do a really really good job I will talk to David and see if he will let you play the back 9.

    Obama: Do you mean it? Your the best Michelle.

    Michelle (after she hangs up): Good God, what have I got myself into?

  21. SignPainterGuy on October 15th, 2012 3:23 pm

    Ha haa ! Good stuff, especially, "(after she hangs up)" !

    The woman HAS money, it`s just the thoughts of having to spend it on other than way-overpriced clothes is just unconscionable to her !

  22. naqash899 on December 27th, 2012 8:43 am

    I can not agree with it any more to Mobile phone conclusion here.i am very happy to see your blog. i like this kind of blog. i am regular visitor of your site. i like this kind of blog.
    Austin TX Custom Home Builder

  23. faddi on January 25th, 2013 10:10 am

    Thanks for the nice post. I have already bookmarked it.It was really a good read. Hi, I found your article while searching on yahoo and I really like your article. infrared images of façade's design

  24. eavedrop44 on January 26th, 2013 10:04 am

    After that, the ascent slowed, sped up, stalled. During the pre-jump checklist, I suspected Felix was getting nervous; he didn`t respond to commands right away. SQL Interview Questions

  25. eavedrop44 on February 10th, 2013 5:25 pm

    I appreciate the information and the effort you put into your site.when searching on this topic.I will check back in the future and see if you have more articles.seo

  26. drmiyaa on February 18th, 2013 1:28 pm

    I really appreciate spending some time to talk about that, I believe firmly regarding this and so really enjoy understanding more about this kind of subject.Keep up the good work! beton epoxy montreal

  27. wiki on February 19th, 2013 4:58 am

    Health care extends beyond the delivery of services to patients, encompassing many related sectors, and set within a bigger picture of financing and governance structures. Thanks a lot.
    Regards,
    creativebioscience.com

  28. star7690 on February 25th, 2013 10:18 am

    I think we can see more sports updates through this website more often because the bandwith of this website is very good and easy accessible at the same time as well. wall tiles

  29. weightlosspunch.com on February 26th, 2013 7:24 am

    Tell your teen that it's OK to never drink. Teens who have the courage to go against the norm and do what they know is best for themselves is admirable. Thanks.

  30. paper help on March 18th, 2013 12:27 pm

    Its a cool article to read by any common man. I found myself in the place of the traveller. Here lies the real worth and beauty of the article. The article had clearly demarcated the facts that are really true.

  31. BMW GT1 on March 26th, 2013 1:37 am

    I have recently been searching for information about this topic .DEMI

  32. honey on April 13th, 2013 6:39 pm

    For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.
    liteforex Ratting

  33. bridgnorth font on April 24th, 2013 11:42 am

    Provide constant feedback. Students need clear goals and feedback about their progress toward these goals. Design assignments that are challenging and measurable. If students know which goals they are working toward, they will be more likely to achieve them. Thanks a lot.

  34. seo firm on April 30th, 2013 8:34 am

    There are times when you must find the location of studs behind stucco walls. Whether you are hanging a heavy mirror or a fragile work of art–you must have the added support of installing your mounting hardware into wood and not just wallboard. Thanks.

  35. zumby143 on May 8th, 2013 1:25 am

    It includes acute care: necessary treatment for a short period of time for a brief but serious illness, injury or other health condition, such as in a hospital emergency department. It also includes skilled attendance during childbirth, intensive care, and medical imaging services. Thanks a lot.
    Regards,
    <a href="http://www.reinventingaging.org” target=”_blank”>www.reinventingaging.org

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.