In the mid 40's the French were running a little behind on their jet aircraft designing... this little 2 seat side-by-side effort was their first jet, making its first flight in 1946. It was designed by Lucien Servanty who would later become one of the primary engineers responsible for the supersonic Concorde. That's a pretty impressive pedigree to say the least! Interestingly, I find the Triton to be one of the coolest looking aircraft because it seems to have so much of that 'futuristic' look that was popular in old films and comic books. It's sleek and simple, with a really small wing and just the right curves. Even the windshield design looks very futuristic to me. And those main gear legs are mounted about half way out those itty bitty wings! Lots and lots of cool going on here.
Only five of the French Sud-Ouest SO.6000 Tritons were built
With only five having been built, and nothing very remarkable about its performance, the Triton is mostly a curious little sidebar in aviation history. The prototype was actually powered underpowered by a Junkers Jumo jet engine (like used in the German Me 262, tho the 262 had two engines) because the French designed engine intended for it wasn't completed yet. The other Tritons built wound up having a far more powerful British Rolls Royce Nene engine fitted thus improving performance.
Stubby wings and sorta futuristic spacecraft look of the 1946 French SO.6000 Triton
Regardless of the fact that it was never put into production for military service as intended, I'm voting on the 'awesome' side of the poll on this one for sure! But what about you? Do you say awesome, ugly or both?
This fabulous time-lapsed video labeled 'Mission 26' (Endeavour had 25 missions in space, this is Mission 26) shows that 12 mile journey in HD and with great beauty. And I'm really glad to see that the people of the LA area came out in large and very supportive numbers to catch a look of Endeavour on her way to her resting place. It looks like a job very well done by everyone : )
Amazing screenshot of Endeavour on her way thru the streets of L.A. last weekend
The Red Bull Stratos team had calculated that Felix Baumgartner would very possibly go supersonic on a spacedive from 120,000 feet... and with the actual stepping off point of 128,097 feet last Sunday, his chances for that high of a speed seemed even more likely. Interestingly, MSNBC reported that Felix actually went faster than the speed of LIGHT on Sunday! Wow! That would have really been impressive! However, I'm pretty confident that Felix did not exceed the speed of light during his spacedive, and I'm pretty sure that my long-held opinion that MSNBC doesn't have the first clue remains solidly intact.
But concerning the speed of SOUND, the unofficial report from the Red Bull Stratos team is saying that Felix went Mach 1.24 or about 833 mph. The higher exit altitude would seem to fit with the idea that Felix not only got past the speed of sound, but got well past it. And unlike the speculation offered up by some before the attempt, Felix didn't burn up and he didn't explode when he exceeded the sound barrier. In fact, he didn't even feel anything when he went supersonic.
Felix Baumgartner head down in a Red Bull Stratos test jump in June 2012
But I'd like to offer up a little different perspective here. I'm guessing Felix's speed was really more like about 200mph. Am I doubting that Felix went supersonic? Of course not. I'm a huge fan of what was accomplished by the entire Red Bull Stratos team (and their subcontractors) and I'm quite confident that Felix did exceed the speed of sound while in freefall. But the kind of thinking that was sure he would burn up or explode if he went supersonic is also a little confused in wrapping their head around that 833 mph figure. Felix's airspeed, meaning the the speed that would have registered on an airspeed indicator if he had one, was most likely more like 200mph.
Great overview video of the entire mission: launch to landing
Since there was so little air when he was at the extremely high altitudes, the air pressure he felt was greatly reduced despite the high speed he was traveling. My speculation is that from an actual airspeed perspective, this jump felt about the same as it would have if he had made if from 15,000 feet and gone head-down in freefall. Given the extra mass that Felix had with the equipment he was wearing, the relatively aerodynamic shape of the snug fitting suit and helmet, and the head-down position, he would likely be able to hit up to about 200 mph on any skydive. A typical skydiver in a flat stomach-toward-the-earth position falls with an airspeed around 120 mph. But when that typical skydiver pulls their arms back to their side and goes into a head down position, they can easily reach 180 mph.
So, the point here is that while Felix did go supersonic, it really felt like a pretty normal airspeed to his body and suit. Anyone thinking that it was like Felix was driving a convertible car at 833 mph on the ground needs to think again. However, there were lots of other factors on this jump that made it hardcore extreme. With temperatures as cold as -90 Fahrenheit to fly thru, the lack of life-supporting oxygen outside the suit, the extreme low atmospheric pressure, and the length of time that Felix was living inside that suit (both physiological and psychological stress) before the actual jump all made the mission both a huge challenge and extremely dangerous.
For me tho, one of the most impressive and powerful parts of the whole project is found in the words that Felix spoke just before he left the capsule:
I know the whole world is watching right now and I wish the world could see what I can see. Sometimes you have to go up really high to understand how small you really are... I'm going home now.
Well done Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos team!
After trying but failing last week to launch the largest manned helium balloon ever from Roswell New Mexico, and then battling similar challenging winds this morning, Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos crew succeeded in getting off the ground late this morning Mountain Time. And then after a successful ascent, Felix left the capsule step at 128,097 feet above the Earth setting records for the highest manned balloon flight, the highest jump ever, and the fastest freefall speed. The actual speed will be posted later once it's official, but it does indeed appear that Felix went faster than the speed of sound on his journey back to Earth!
The 4 minute 19 second freefall begins right here at 128,097 feet!
I was away from my office and my computer when the jump took place, but I did watch it live on my phone... a pretty unbelievable feat to say the least. How things have changed since the days when Joe Kittinger made his jump from 102,800 feet in 1960 - a record jump that stood until earlier today. Seeing Felix on the ascent and then leaving the capsule step live was amazing, awesome, and fantastic. What a thrill to be able to experience this project with a live broadcast!
I figured there were plenty of sources out there for info on the jump today, so rather than just repeat the same info I'm offering up 5 reasons why I think the Red Bull Stratos spacedive today by Felix Baumgartner was pure awesome.
Felix Baumgartner and Technical Project Director Art Thompson celebrate success!
Reason 1: Joe Kittinger involvement
The fact that the man who set the high altitude jump record as part of Project Excelsior back in 1960 was directly involved in the Red Bull Stratos project is simply spectacular. Had the 84-year-old Joe Kittinger only made a statement or posed for a pic or two with Felix, we would have missed out on the way that these two projects and these two very unique men have been brought together. Even more encouraging is that fact that this was never seen by either man as an issue of pride... Joe was thrilled to be part of the effort of another man to break his records. Unlike our modern culture of extreme sports and chest-beating self glory, this is how real men behave.
If you're interested in knowing more of Joe Kittinger's fabulous life, check out his autobiography Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger - and if you purchase it (or any other products) after using this link, AirPigz receives a small referral payment from Amazon. It doesn't cost you anything extra and AirPigz gets some much needed support!
The video above shows the attempt to launch Felix Baumgartner out of Roswell New Mexico last Tuesday (October 9, 2012) as part of the Red Bull Stratos project, an effort to make a jump from the edge of space at 120,000. The video shows how to winds were too strong to launch, and that Felix had hopes that they would be able to try the launch again two days later on the 11th. The weather forecast wasn't favorable for the 11th, but it is currently favorable for a launch early Sunday morning October 14, 2012, presumably at 8am EDT / 6am MDT.
WATCH LIVE: the launch, ascent, and jump by Felix Baumgartner will be broadcast live via RedBullStratos.com/live - this is also your best source for an update on the current launch countdown.
UPDATE: 9:48am EDT Sunday October 14, 2012 Red Bull Stratos update was just given at www.redbullstratos.com/live - Winds are calm on the ground but again blowing too strong at 700 feet. Felix is in the capsule and ready but the balloon is not inflated and the launch is on hold until 9am MDT (11am EDT / 8am PDT) - winds are expected to be suitable around 9am MDT.
click pic to enlarge - then right click to save for use as a cover pic on your facebook page
You might want to join me in showing support for Felix by making the above pic your facebook cover pic for the day. Click the pic to enlarge it, then right click and save-as to save the pic on your computer... then you can upload it and set it as your cover pic on your facebook page.
There's another interesting twist to the attempt to make the spacedive on Sunday October 14, 2012. This date is 65 years to the day since Chuck Yeager was the first person to fly an aircraft faster than the speed of sound. He accomplished this on October 12, 1947 flying the Bell X-1. Even more, 89 year old Chuck Yeager will celebrate this date by riding in the back of an F-15 that will go supersonic at essentially the same time and place that he did it back in 1947. They will depart Nellis AFB near Las Vegas and then travel to the area around Edwards AFB (called Muroc at the time) to recreate the supersonic flight. You can learn more in this article: Famous pilot Yeager re-enacting right stuff 65 years later.
But the big news tomorrow will be about Felix Baumgartner and his attempt to be the first person to go supersonic without being inside an aircraft. He may attain a speed of 690 mph while in freefall, a speed sufficient to push him past the speed of sound!
Los Angeles TV station KTLA is providing some live coverage of the Shuttle Endeavour slowly making its way from LAX to the California Science Center in Exposition Park where it will be put on display. Watch the live feed here.
I don't know how long the journey will take, but when I posted this live at 5:49pm EDT (Saturday 10-13-12), the Shuttle was still making the slow 12 mile journey.
Just announced: Vans RV-12 SLSA - factory built / ready to fly starting at $105,000
Today it was announced that Van's Aircraft will be making their 2-seat RV-12 aircraft available as a factory-built and ready-to-fly SLSA with an introductory price of $105,000. The RV-12 has been available as a homebuilt kit aircraft since 2008 with about 200 completed and flying. The RV-12 has a side by side cockpit, all aluminum airframe, tricycle landing gear and is powered by the Rotax 912ULS engine that makes 100hp for takeoff. This smallest RV from the family of wildly popular RV airplanes has a useful load of about 570 pounds and cruises about 120mph. The RV-12 SLSA will be built in the USA by Synergy Air of Eugene, Oregon. Orders are expected to be first be accepted in November 2012 with initial deliveries beginning in early 2013. Get more info on the Van's Aircraft website.
Now available: Tenn-Air CH750 SLSA - factory built / ready to fly starting at $74,900
Tenn-Air has recently licensed with Zenith Aircraft Company to make a factory-built version of the popular 2-seat Zenith CH750 STOL aircraft available as a ready-to-fly SLSA with an introductory price for $74,900. The CH750 has been available as a homebuilt kit since 2008 with over 50 completed and flying. Over 800 of the smaller but similar CH701 homebuilt have been completed since it was introduced in 1986. The CH750 has a side by side cockpit, all aluminum airframe, tricycle landing gear and is powered by the Jabiru 3300 engine that makes 120hp for takeoff... a combination good for a useful load of about 550 pounds and cruises about 100mph while also offering very strong short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. The CH750 SLSA will be built from Zenair kits by Tenn-Air in Shelbyville Tennessee, and first deliveries are expected to be available in November or December 2012. Get more info on the Tenn-Air website.
75 years strong: Piper J-3 Cub - rebuilt / ready to fly ('0' time) for ~$50,000 or less
Production of the 2-seat Piper J-3 Cub ran from 1938 until 1947 with almost 20,000 aircraft being built. Today, a completely restored '0' time J-3 Cub can be bought, ready to fly, for around $50,000, or even less. This iconic aircraft that taught thousands and thousands of people how to fly features tandem seating, steel tube and wood structure with fabric covering, taildragger landing gear and is typically powered by a Continental engine ranging from 65 to 90hp. The Cub has a useful load of about 520 pounds and cruises around 75 mph. Thousands of Cubs are still around today with hundreds of them ripe for being restored to like-new condition (ready to serve as trainers and recreational aircraft indefinitely) all for a $50,000 (or less) investment.
So there you have it, three aircraft that are somewhat similar yet still very different. And I'm here once again to make the case for the idea that our best step forward to try to save General Aviation is a giant step backward! I believe that the J-3 Cub makes way more sense than an RV-12 or a CH750 as a way to draw more people into aviation. Don't misunderstand, I think those two modern flying machines are both great little airplanes that have a lot to offer. But when the Piper Cub is cheaper to acquire (by far)... as cheap or cheaper to operate... has a longer lifespan... creates better pilots (because it's a taildragger)... and it's about 243% more fun to fly, you have a clear winner here.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I also absolutely believe that the Cub has significantly more curb appeal. That curb appeal is really all about passion. Passion for its fabulous style, its perfect nostalgia, and its pure and honest flying pleasure. Spend and hour or two flying over God's green Earth with a good friend and the door open and you'll experience the kind of flying that you'll wish would never ever end.
My vote in the poll below is going to the '0' time restored Piper Cub as the LSA that has the most to offer in trying to save General Aviation in America. Now if I can just get a group of people together to agree on this so we can start cranking out like-new Cubs from a dedicated restoration facility, we can get a whole new generation of pilots into the sky... affordably, with great stick and rudder skills, and in love with the world's greatest airplane!
(click pic for hi-res) North American X-15 on the B-52 wing about 50 years ago
With all this Felix Baumgartner edge-of-space talk, I found myself getting all misty-eyed thinking about the North American X-15 and the amazing things that little black beast accomplished in the late 50's and early 60's. I figure this is a good time to offer up a couple hi-res CoolPix images for you to gaze at.
To put it all in perspective, Felix plans to jump from 120,000 feet, but the X-15's highest flight was in 1963 when Joe Walker reached 354,199 feet. However, almost all of the fastest X-15 flights occurred in and around that 120,000 foot altitude. These fastest flights ranged from 3,900 mph all the way up to 4,519 mph! And without question, the X-15 provided so much important data for understanding both the space environment, and the transition from space back into aerodynamic flight.
I hope you enjoy these two nostalgic pix of one of the most fascinating flying machines ever designed and built, but I also wanna encourage you that I can feel an 'X-15 week' here at AirPigz coming on before long... and wow, that's gonna be cool : )
[In the X-15 days and still today, the USAF and NASA award astronaut wings for flight at 50 miles in altitude (264,000 feet) - thus consided a 'spaceflight', while the FAI considers spaceflight at 100 kilometers (328,000 feet) in altitude]
(click pic for hi-res) One of the three X-15's built landing on the California lakebed in 1961
Felix Baumgartner after balloon launch for 120,000' spacedive was cancelled due to wind
Red Bull Stratos spacedive to be re-scheduled... possibly as early as Thursday October 11, 2012 (check RedBullStratos.com/live for schedule and live broadcast)
UPDATE: 6:34pm Wednesday October 10, 2012 Next launch attempt tentatively scheduled for Sunday October 14 as the weather forecast shows that Thursday's weather will not be suitable. The next weather window for Felix Baumgartner and Red Bull Stratos opens on Sunday Oct 14 - a three day pre-alert as well as daily weather updates will follow and lead into the next launch day... watch RedBullStratos.com/live for official updates.
A lot of people all over the world were watching and hoping for the massive 29.47 million cubic foot helium balloon to be completely filled and launched out of Roswell New Mexico today, but the winds were too strong to safely launch. An early morning attempt to send Felix Baumgartner up to a record breaking 120,000 feet for a freefall from the edge of space was re-scheduled for later in the day (approximately 1:30pm EDT) but at 1:42 EDT the mission was aborted as the winds were just too strong to launch the balloon. The entire Red Bull Stratos team is now working to calculate when the attempt can be tried once again... possibly as early as Thursday October 11, 2012. The intent is the same as before, to reach 120,000 feet for the spacedive back to Earth.
Felix Baumgartner entering the Red Bull Stratos capsule for the launch attempt today
This is the third and final Red Bull Stratos jump planned... and the one that is expected to break the record jump set on August 16, 1960 by Joe Kittinger (USAF Captain at the time of the record, later a Colonel) of 102,800 feet as part of Project Excelsior. The first Red Bull Stratos jump was made by Felix from 71,581 feet on March 15, 2012 and the second from 96,640 feet on July 25, 2012. This third mission will shatter the 1960 record if they reach the intended altitude of 120,000 feet.
Helium balloon minutes before cancelling the launch due to wind at 1:42 EDT on 10.9.12
The are many risks and hazards associated with a project like this, but the first two jumps by Felix have gone much smoother than the serious challenges Joe Kittinger experienced in his three high altitude jumps (more on that in a future post) - but the expectations are high for a successful mission for Felix, and hopefully that'll take place very soon.
It's truly remarkable that Joe Kittinger is participating in the Red Bull Stratos project as a technical advisor and inspirational cheerleader... and the picture below of Felix (born 1969) and Joe (born 1928) together is really rather amazing when you consider what these men have accomplished and how many years are between their efforts.
You might be interested in checking out this excellent book: Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger - and if you purchase it (or any other products) after using this link, AirPigz receives a small referral payment from Amazon. It doesn't cost you anything extra and AirPigz gets some much needed support!
Felix Baumgartner (Red Bull Stratos) and Joe Kittinger (Project Excelsior) together
Animation of the process set to unfold tomorrow - the Red Bull Stratos spacedive
UPDATE: 9:47am Tuesday October 9, 2012 LAUNCH DELAYED - earliest launch time now 1:30pm EDT. (Watch RedBullStratos.com/live for launch update info) Winds on the surface in Roswell are light but at 800 feet they were about 20mph... the winds must be very light from the surface to approximately 1,000 feet so that the entire balloon is experiencing the same wind for the launch process.
(7 pix and 2 videos)
The Red Bull Stratos spacedive from 120,000 feet (at the edge of space) was scheduled to take place today with a launch in Roswell New Mexico, but weather issues have pushed the attempt back until tomorrow, Tuesday October 9, 2012. You're probably already somewhat familiar with Felix Baumgartner and this effort to break the 120,800 foot jump record set by Joseph Kittinger back in 1960, and you might even know that Kittinger (now 84 years old) is participating in the program as a technical advisor and inspirational cheerleader, but do you know much about the details of the equipment for the jump? If not, check out the following info to get your self 'up to speed' so to speak.
BE ADVISED: the Red Bull Stratos spacedive will be broadcast live at RedBullStratos.com/live with a target launch time of 5am Pacific time / 8am Eastern time. As I understand it, the ascent to 120,000 feet will take less than three hours, so the jump from the capsule might occur before noon Eastern time. Be sure to check out the 'how to watch live page' to get more info on the various options for viewing the mission. An extensive broadcast effort with 35 cameras has been put in place - this might be really amazing coverage! You can also get an alert about the launch time by joining the Red Bull Stratos Mission - Live on facebook.
Felix Baumgartner may be in this spot tomorrow - at 120,000 feet ready to jump
Live broacast details - where to watch and what to expect, plus brief mission overview
From launch to landing - the full Red Bull Stratos mission sequence
Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 09:17PM 
The future is now! (1946 French style) - the Sud-Ouest SO.6000 Triton 2-seat jet
Only five of the French Sud-Ouest SO.6000 Tritons were built
Stubby wings and sorta futuristic spacecraft look of the 1946 French SO.6000 Triton
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