CIA NOTABLE FLIGHTS Part B, Parachute jumps
1797-10-22 First parachute descent from a balloon.

André Jacques Garnerin Hydrogen balloon



1804-07-24 First pilot to save his life by parachute.

Jordaki Kuparentko

Balloon caught fire over Warsaw.


1815-08-25 First woman parachutist. Elisa Garnerin

Elisabeth Garnerin Hydrogen balloon

Elisa Garnerin. ascends at Champ de Mars. Paris

May have been (only) a balloon flight. not parachute jump

1837-07-24 Robert Cocking killed in parachute descent.

Charles Green "Royal Nassau". ex "Royal Vauxhall".

Balloon exceeded 23 000 ft (7 100 m)

Edward Spencer

1919-07-06 First Atlantic crossing by airship (1st east-west by any aircraft).

George Herbert Scott. Major Beardmore HMA R34. Hydrogen

East Fortune (UK) July 2nd - Mineola. Long Island. NY. July 6th.

Distance is the total ground distance covered 29. one (Mj Pritchard) arriving USA by parachute

1927-05-04 Altitude flight.

Hawthorne Gray Army S-40-241

Pilot left by parachute. Record denied


1931-08-05 Made her last balloon flight. 63 years old.

Käte Paulus

Made 510 balloon flights 1868-1935

Made 150 parachute jumps from balloon

1934-07-28 Stratosphere flight.

William Elsworth Kepner "Explorer". Hydrogen

Fails at 60 000 ft. All parachute safely. Launch from Stratobowl. Rapid City

Orvil A Anderson. Albert W. Stevens

1959-11-16 High altitude parachute jump.

Joseph W. Kittinger "Excelsior I"

White Sands. New Mexico.

Kittinger lost consciousness due to rotation

1959-12-11 High altitude parachute jump.

Joseph W. Kittinger "Excelsior II"



1960-08-16 Highest known successful parachute jump.

Joseph W. Kittinger "Excelsior III"

4m 38s free fall (13m 45s total). max descent speed 990 km/h


1966-02-02 Altitude flight.

Nicholas Piantanida Raven

Oxygen problem. Gondola descended by parachute

Pilot unable to connect parachute oxygen cylinder

1966-05-01 Altitude flight.

Nicholas Piantanida Raven

Pilot parachutes. looses oxygen at 17000m. Dies from hypoxia

Highest known manned ascent


© CIA, Hans Åkerstedt
2024-04-25