Posted on 10/14/2012 11:53:51 AM PDT by drewh
Looks like Felix could have landed on Pebble Beach and played 18 holes! :)
Mine would be hiding behind my breastbone at that height! ;-)
The Klingons Jacked it.
I’m not a fan of heights, but these kind of things don’t bother me too much because it’s controlled. The guy has a parachute, protective gear, and a capsule. He’s got a team and they’ve been working on this for years. Doing it under just the right conditions. I’m not trying to minimize the risk or the courage it takes. It is an amazing feat and I find it very interesting. I love the Joseph Kittinger video I discovered a few years back.
Joseph W. Kittinger - Skydiving From The Edge Of The World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxfdC7U_mgQ
But this kind of thing is harder for me to watch:
Crazy Russian Stunts at a crazy height Again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFW3-hxWPZE
from this thread:
Snapshots from the dizzying heights of Dubai
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2902908/posts#25
Video from beginning to landing . 2.3 down page:
Thanks for posting the video. Missed it this morning.
I watched the whole thing live and it was damned cool!
He is the craziest SOB on the planet, but he’s got guts!
That’s movin’. When I first read about this plan (in Popular Science, some years ago by now) I thought it was completely nuts. The last US Air Force balloon jumper (the guy with the record, maybe the only survivor.
Boy, I hate watching the Lions, but it’s like a road accident, can’t stop myself. Pass plays from the ONE? Stupid tie game now. Idiotic. Oh, sorry, this paragraph is an irrelevant aside.
Guy is a total badass. Period. World needs a hero.
Would be nice but Obummer all but parked NASA in the hangers. May be he can get a ride on a SpaceX flight.
Yup. I read somewhere that the spacesuit had to big enough for his testicles.
WWWWhhhhooooaaaaa! I get vertigo just looking at the picture.
AP photo, so it’ll be a memory soon. :’)
Gotta take your word for it, without clicking the links! LOL
I have height issues, big time. It’s odd though — even though I don’t “like” flying, I’ve never had that acrophobic/dizzy sense about heights when in an airplane. OTOH, I can’t do observation decks or tall buildings of any sort. Heck, I don’t even like climbing to the top step of a ladder!
I’m the same way as you—not really a fan of flying (especially after 9/11), but I could do it again if I had to. I am more freaked out by overlooks of canyons and observations decks like you said. I’ve gotten better over the years, but still a little freaked out. One of my high school friends did her first skydiving jump in September. I have to admit I envy people that can do such a thing. I love the sky. I love clouds. It must be an amazing feeling. I contacted her about it. She wants a friend or friends to go with her next time. I told her, I don’t know if I could do it when push comes to shove so to speak, but I am interested. She’s talking next Spring or Summer.
Yes, The capsule from the balloon detaches by remote. I’m not sure about the balloon but it does have a release valve at the top to let out the helium so I’m guessing that the when the capsule detaches it pulls the valve full open. It would still take a long time for the balloon to fall based on weight and drag.
For any new to the thread.
Video from beginning to landing . 2/3 down page:
Great view!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.