High(est) airplane airspeed to jump?

[pack40 0]

Jumping from 747 as in the "Drop zone" movie can it be reality?
I think most of you have seen the Dropzone movie. OK there are some big mistakes in it everybody knows -catching someone during freefall holding him while opening, talking during freefall etc...
My questions is what is the highest speed of any aircraft a skydivier can or did jump from?
For example when in the military they are making HALO jumps from C-130 Herclues I do not think the speed can be less that 300-400 km/h? Are there any world records?
OK in the film it was a joke jumping from a hole, but jumping from a rear/cargo door? I know that 300-400km/h you can jump but from a faster airplane? Anybody *pro* has some ideas?
(Or Mr.Dan Cooper from Northwest Airlines' Flight 305 Boeing 727 a RICH skydiver)

[freeflir29 0]

"Jumping from 747 as in the "Drop zone" movie can it be reality?"
Yeah...but it's gonna hurt and it's a bit hard to open the door with the airplane pressurized. I got out at 230KIAS a couple weeks ago and it wasn't exactly the most pleasant exit ever. A 747 cruises somewhere around 600 and some I think. Don't let the movies fool you. Cutting a door off the hinges with explosives isn't quite as easy as globbing a wad of C-4.....of course that's an entire other story....... Have a nice day and don't try stupid shit at home kids......
"There once was a man named Enis....."-Krusty the Clown
Clay

[Jumperpaula 0]

One time (at band camp) They lost electrical on jump run in a queenair and couldn't cut. Not quit the airspeed you guys are talking about, but they had an AFF1 on the load. One JM blocked the wind (well tried to) and they lost the student on exit. Ended up ok ... plane had to circle out the fuel and belly in. Poor Beumont ... miss that queenair don't cha!
Fly Your Slot !

[ojf1982 0]

This might be a stupid question , but I must ask since ive seen it but i have never asked. What is KIAS? I am guessing it has to do with the speed of the aircraft.
Skydiving is not a sport, it is a way of life!
Omar B-24801

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

KIAS= Knots Indicated Air Speed.
My webpage HERE

[AggieDave 6]

I don't know, but I went out of a CASA during a high-speed pass. They said we were close to 180knots, which is really freaking fast. All I know is that it almost ripped my goggles off my head, I had to catch them on the top of my head before I did loose them!
AggieDave '02
-------------
Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[LittleJumper 0]

Did that student ever come back to finish the program? Must have been a scary exerience for her/him.

[skyhawk 2]

ppl eject from fighter jets :) though not normaly for fun
i live my life 14000 ft at a time, nothen else matters, in that 60 seconds or less im free

[PhreeZone 20]

Right, But ejection seats have rockets on them to slow the pilot down slowly. Plus most times if you have an ejection seat you also have a modifiyed pressure suit on, so that it's not quite as bad as a Sport jump.
A rainy day at the DZ is better then a Sunny day at work

[indyz 1]

I was just watching this show on the History channel about lost nukes, and they had an interview guy who punched out of a B-52 at 600 knots. He left his visor up, and got two black eyes just from the force of the air on his face. His pilot had his helmet ripped off and got knocked out from the blast. Ouchies.
--
Brian

[Jumperpaula 0]

Quote

Did that student ever come back to finish the program? Must have been a scary exerience for her/him.

Nope. No level 2. Funny, the JM was laughing...said " I didn't even have to ask 'Are you ready to Skydive' ... didn't matter, it was an aircraft emergency and he had no choice. Pour dude had to jump.
Fly Your Slot !

[freeflir29 0]

I have known of two cases of high speed ejections in the past couple years. One was a two seat F-15. The Wizzo (Back seater) was killed but the pilot survived with all the blood vessels in his face ruptured (Head swollen up like a pumpkin) and one lower leg hanging on by the skin. They estimated that he broke the sound barrier during the ejection.
I controlled the fly by for an F-16 pilot in Korea that was killed during a high speed ejection. The accident comittee also estimated that he was beyond the sound barrier during the ejection sequence. Lost his situational awareness under NVG's and found himself pointed at the water at over 700 KIAS. He punched and made it into the raft but was found DOA by the rescue helicopter.
Moral of the story......going beyond 300 and definately 400 KIAS is getting into some pretty dangerous territory. I prefer something closer to 90-100 KIAS.
"There once was a man named Enis....."-Krusty the Clown
Clay

[scottbre 0]

With the ejection seats, it is almost guaranteed to give the pilot a back injury, because of the force that it propells him out of the cockpit. But it is basically like reserve chutes, when you are in the position of needing to use it, you don't really care whether it's going to hurt a little bit.

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