R.I.P. Felix Baumgartner

[Drago]

The extreme sport guru and one time parachute altitude record holder dead at 56 in a paragliding crash.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The extreme sport guru and one time parachute altitude record holder dead at 56 in a paragliding crash.

Oh well, better to die doing something you love, I guess.

 

[classic33]

He remains the first first person to break the sound barrier in free fall.
Everyone else is following what he did.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

He remains the first first person to break the sound barrier in free fall.
Everyone else is following what he did.

Did he actually do it though? Wasn't there something like that which he failed at as he went into a spin or something?

 

[classic33]

Did he actually do it though? Wasn't there something like that which he failed at as he went into a spin or something?

Everything says he did.

• Achieved Mach 1.25—1,357.64 kilometres per hour (843.60 mph)[47]—after approximately 00:40 of freefall

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

 

[Bonefish Blues]

56 is not a bad innings considering what he did. A Scottish wing flyer died in his mid 20s not so long ago iirc.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Everything says he did.

• Achieved Mach 1.25—1,357.64 kilometres per hour (843.60 mph)[47]—after approximately 00:40 of freefall

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

Ah ok, I'll need to look it up, but I just remember there was something he wanted to do but never managed it. 🤔

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Everything says he did.

• Achieved Mach 1.25—1,357.64 kilometres per hour (843.60 mph)[47]—after approximately 00:40 of freefall

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

Ah, it was the amount of time in freefall I am thinking of.

 

[Drago]

Did he actually do it though? Wasn't there something like that which he failed at as he went into a spin or something?

I think the only one he didnt steal from Kittinger was longest freefall as he had to deploy the chute earlier than planned as hed gone jnto a spin and was at risk of passing out.

Alan Eustace eventually took an altitude record, but he used a drogue chute so it was never true freefall and it's in a different category to Baumgartners jump.

Baumgartner became good friends with Joe Kittinger, who acted as CapCom during the former's jump.

 

[Chris S]

The first time I heard his name I thought the newsreader was saying 'bum gardener'.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The first time I heard his name I thought the newsreader was saying 'bum gardener'.

I think we all did! 🤣

 

[Jameshow]

Everything says he did.

• Achieved Mach 1.25—1,357.64 kilometres per hour (843.60 mph)[47]—after approximately 00:40 of freefall

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

Why would you do that!! Madness!!

 

[Drago]

T'is reckoned the poor feller was dead before he hit the ground, a heart attack while in flight or somesuch

 

[ianrauk]

I watched his 'high' jump live. It was pretty amazing.
Sad news about his demise.

 

[Mo1959]

T'is reckoned the poor feller was dead before he hit the ground, a heart attack while in flight or somesuch

Got to wonder if all the repeated massive adrenaline spikes he would have had over the years could affect the heart?