# New Skydive Altitude Record Set:  128,000+ Feet

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-skydive-altitude-record-set-128-000-feet/637718>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 14, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-skydive-altitude-record-set-128-000-feet/637718 "2012-10-14T20:39:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-skydive-altitude-record-set-128-000-feet/637718/1 "2012-10-14T20:39:38Z")

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Felix Baumgartner has broken Joe Kittinger’s 1960 highest-ever skydive record: [link](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19943590)

The prior record was 102,000 feet.

Mr. Kittinger was a consultant on this project and mentored Mr. Baumgartner.

Congratulations, job well done.

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-skydive-altitude-record-set-128-000-feet/637718/2 "2012-10-14T20:45:28Z")

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Oh, and while he did break the altitude record, Mr. Kittinger still retains the record for longest freefall. Baumgartner apparently pulled the 'chute a little earlier than anticipated, and he _was_ going for speed as well as altitude.

The top speed clocked was 790 mph, the team is awaiting official confirmation of that. If so, he’s exceeded the fastest speed without vehicle. He hoped to break the sound barrier on the way down, if that speed is confirmed he did, in fact, break Mach 1 on the way down.

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-skydive-altitude-record-set-128-000-feet/637718/3 "2012-10-14T21:20:51Z")

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Ya know - I DID do a search for this topic and somehow missed the [other thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=667816) on this. Well, either discuss on a different tangent here, close it, or merge as the Powers That Be see fit.