Everest Wingsuit Jump

[jdorje]

I think you just used way too much science to explain that terminal velocity rises as you leave the atmosphere.

[dsunwall]

he won't be the first.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mount-e ... f-19278331" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GerryRigged]

From the looks in the video he did not jump off the summit. The narrator mentions almost in passing he was at around 24,000 ft.

[djkest]

I think you just used way too much science to explain that terminal velocity rises as you leave the atmosphere.

Well, 29,000' is still pretty close to the earth. A common number used by the scientific community for Re-entry Altitude is 91,440 meters ASL. So it's much closer to sea level than it is to space. So it would be more correct to say that terminal velocity increases as air density decreases. Perhaps just a poor choice of words on your part.

[jbchalk]

From the looks in the video he did not jump off the summit. The narrator mentions almost in passing he was at around 24,000 ft.

Right, that jump was from 24,000' off the north face. Joby intends to jump off the summit and (I assume) down the steep southwest face and back to base camp.

[climber with a k]

What I gather from an NPR interview is that he'll first use a modern parachute which he will then ditch at a predetermined altitude and finish the descent via the wing suit.

[Jesse M]

This is going to be awesome, I wish Joby the best of luck, and can't wait to watch him fly down the mountain.

[justiner]

he will also not be listening to dubstep with that awesome break, as the animation on his site would make you believe. and c'mon bottled o's?

[MUni Rider]

he won't be the first.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mount-e ... f-19278331" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well, yeah, but that wasn't an American, so it doesn't really count. And his wing suit was huge, totally cheating, and 24,000 feet isn't the top. Russians use the metric system and must have got confused trying to convert meters to 29,000 feet. His bad. This record will be ours. That, or else the terrorist will win. God Speed.

[cheeseburglar]

Sounds like this descent will save a lot of wear and tear on his knees.
I could see this becoming a popular way to descend some of the 14ers.

[jdorje]

Almost every time I'm on top of a mountain looking down I have exactly that thought...

[painless4u2]

Cancelled due to Everest tragedy:
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/p ... e-tragedy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;