Vol. 11 - August 2000 - English Edition	The Magazine from Skydive World

Skydive Index  Pearls on the Net The Base Point read more... The Slammer read more... Aerodyne Research FAQ read more...   Features Parashoot Productions read more... Skydive Palatka read more... 1st BASE Extreme Video read more...   Your Stories King Air Boogie read more... The Last Days With Terry read more...   Wanted! [updated: 08/10/00] Staff & Jobs        read more... Team Members  read more... Stolen Gear        read more... Miscellaneous     read more...    Newsletter sign up now...  Shop Zone  *updated* Action Man Sky Diver  Skydive World  Greeting Cards  Skydive Forum  Skydive Books  Your Gallery   Beyond Skydiving  Treasure Chest Relationship Closure Cards read more... Netbaby, Fun! read more... The Stinkymeat Project read more...  Featured Sites The Empire State Building read more... Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame read more... eNature.com read more...  Archive  Contact  World Weather  Guestbook  Send this Web Site Not just a translation but some different content too!

© 2000 Henny Wiggers   Le Grand Saut A French Skydiver's Dream Many skydivers dream about being a champ or setting a world record once in their lifetime, some reach this goal, some don't. But as 56-year-old French skydiver Michel Fournier proves, it's never too late to try the supposed impossible. Michel Fournier sticks to his dream, and is preparing for "Le Grand Saut" (The Big Jump) and one world record isn't enough for him! He's plans to break four world records in a high altitude jump equipped with stratospheric equipment to help science. The jump will take place in September in Plaine de la Crau in the South of France.   The first record will be the altitude. It will be the first parachute jump superior to 40.000 meters (125,000 ft) - more than four times higher than a passenger jet!   Currently, Russian chief warrant officer Roger Eugène Andreyev possesses the world record with a jump of 24,483 meters made on November 1, 1962. Nevertheless, the Captain Joseph Kittinger made a jump in 31,333 meters on August 16, 1960 within the framework of a scientific experiment. However, his fall was not ratified as he stabilized with the help of a small parachute. The second record will be the altitude of human flight in a balloon. It will take Michel about two hours with a stratospheric balloon to reach 125,000 feet.   Former record holders were Malcom Ross (USA), who made a flight in a balloon at 34.668 meters of altitude in May 1961, and Nick Piantanida (USA) who reached 37.000 meters of altitude on February 2, 1966. The third world record will be the speed of freefall. It will be the first time that a man will go through the sound barrier in freefall. Michel aims to hit a supersonic top speed of just over 1,100 mph. He believes he will break the 760 mph sound barrier after falling for just 37 seconds, then hit his top speed of 1,113 mph at 51 seconds.   Finally the fourth world record will be the length of the freefall, which will last 6 minutes and 25 seconds.   As Michel hurtles head-first through the stratosphere, his £30,000 (US $45,000) carbon fiber suit will protect him from temperatures of minus 60F (-50 degrees celsius). Michel will go up in a huge stratospheric balloon, with a volume of 455.000 m3, inflated with helium. The balloon is able to lift up a load of 900 kg at an altitude of 40.000 meters. Its mass is 907 kg. Its height is 90 meters and is 105 meters in diameter. The basket is like a very small space vehicle, totally automated, controlled from the ground and ensuring the following functions: survival, cold protection, protection against U.V. rays, radio contact and transmission, film and picture contact and transmission, and protection against cosmic rays. Continued on Page 2 Last Update: August 14, 2000

News & Articles  Current News    [updated: 08/10/00]  Competitions SSI Northeast Double-Header read more... Space Games 2000 Season read more... Speed 60-Way Competition read more... Canadian Nationals Review read more... Speed Skydiving Results read more... More Competitions [updated: 08/05/00] read more...  Boogies & Meets The Richmond Boogie read more... Espace Boogie 2000 read more... Queen Boogie read more... More Boogies and Meets [updated: 08/05/00] read more...  Events & Courses The Ranch Airspeed Week read more... Distant Thunder in Lodi read more... Orly King Freefly Tour read more... New Texas POPS Record read more... More Events [updated: 08/05/00] read more...  NSL News [USA] [updated: 08/14/00] This week in the NSL read more...  SSI Pro Tour What's new in the tour? read more... Freefly & Skysurf Events 2000 read more...  Safety Issues [updated: 08/05/00] Fatality in Norway read more... Jump Plane Pilot Killed read more... First Time Jumper Died read more... Fatality in Bolivia read more... BASE Jumpers Died In Plane Crash read more... Sitfly Tips from Pat Works read more... The Ten Commandments of Skydiving read more... ONE COOL TOY! Action Man Skydiver

Feel free to download a small banner to put as a link to skyXtreme on your web site.
Advertisers and sponsors please contact skyXtreme.

Web Design by Netword-Project © 2000
© 2000 skyXtreme / Skydive World