Its a bird. Its a plane. No...

For a minute there I thought you were channeling Howard Dean.

"The last and only person to survive jumps from anywhere near the proposed altitude of the Stratos missions was retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Joseph Kittinger. In 1959 and 1960, he made a series of three jumps from different altitudes--76,400, 74,700, and 102,800 feet--that nearly killed him but set a standard for high-altitude sky diving that has lasted until today. Adventure caught up with the man who could be Kittinger’s successor in order to talk about risk, team work, and the complications of jumping from 120,000 feet."

I'd personally like to see Joe Kittinger's record stand. I got to know him in Orlando years ago whenever he ran the flight operations for Rosie O' Grady's Flying Circus and he is one of the coolest and most gracious gentlemen one could ever meet.

I've seem him interviewed. He does really act like it wasn't that big a deal. And I've seen the video as well. Just amazing! I've done 13,500, but that's like tripping off your bottom porch step by comparison.

Bob after years of hiatus from jumping my wife did a tandem 13,500 for her 50th birthday with me in the right seat and for as many times as I've seen jumpers leave an airplane over the years there is absolutely no way in hell will I ever jump out of an airplane, period!

Kittinger's record should stand forever, anyone who beats it know should have an * next to their name since this is the steroid era.

Rick, you must be mistaken as Jan can't be a day over 30!!

Rick: Remember, though. Most jumpers die in plane crashes, not from impact related injuries. Maybe you'd feel safer if you jumped out of your own plane?? Just an idea.

I love the line "If all goes according to plan..."

Somehow I don't think they mean anything more complicated than shrugging your shoulders and closing your eyes!

Bob. I have witnessed somebody hit the ground hard. I felt the thump through my feet from over 60' away. I thought the guy took serious dammage, but he got up and walked, well, staggered away.

Was that from this past weekend Fred?

I'm not tellin'.

Nah. It was years ago when my ex did a bunch of jumps. The guy had over 1,000 jumps under his belt. He just came in hot and low, as it turns out.