Jumped from 96,640ft

[..]

http://www.redbullstratos.com/

[BradValk48237]

And missed the record by over 8000 feet...

What he couldn't hold onto the string for a bit longer????

Kiddin'   

I think this was kinda a practice run,, the goal is to break the record of over 104,000 ft



Brad

[..]

Well bugger.

I got meself all excited about nuttin.  

EDIT

They are looking at 120,000 ft.  

[Jess from VA]

An old but amusing story.


Late on in the Second World War, as the Allies were fighting their way across northern Europe, a battalion of Gurkhas was asked to provide some volunteers for a mission behind enemy lines.

The unit was paraded, and a staff officer explained the mission: "It is absolutely vital that you need to go in and secure the position. We only expect light resistance from the Germans. You'll be dropped from an aircraft at 1200 feet."

The Gurkhas' own commanding officer then asked for volunteers to take one step forward.  About half of the men stepped forward.

The British officer was surprised.  "I thought the Gurkhas were supposed to be the bravest men of all," he said to the Gurkha c/o. "And it's not as though we expect this to be a particularly dangerous job."

"True," said the Gurkha officer. "But half of them have just volunteered to jump from 1200 feet. Perhaps you should tell them they’ll have parachutes."

 --------------------------

In another version,  the Gurkhas are told they're to jump out at 300 feet, and the Havildar (sergeant) asks if they can jump closer to the ground, but it's explained to him that any lower than 300ft won't give their parachutes time to open. "Oh," replies the Havildar, "so we are to get parachutes then?"