FASTEST MAN ON EARTH

Year Published: 1954

Format: 16mm

Description: This raw, silent footage shows tests conducted in 1954 by Col. John Paul Stapp, an Air Force medical doctor who was studying human factors at Holloman, Air Force Base. All the footage shown here is likely from the record-setting run on December 10, 1954, although it may be possible that the material prior to 14:20 is from an earlier test. At :30, crews are shown loading JATO type rocket bottles to the Sonic Wind rocket sled in preparation for a test run. At 2:48, the sled track is shown with attached telemetry cable. At 4:46, rockets are bolted securely into place. At 5:28, Stapp goes over the test for a final time with his team before climbing into the seat of the Sonic Wind and being strapped in. At 7:01 he is seen with his crash helmet in place. At 10:58 the test gets underway with the rocket bottles firing and the sled accelerating down the track. At 11:20 the sled hits the water brake, subjecting Stapp to tremendous G loads. At 13:00, Stapp leaves the scene in an Air Force ambulance as a precaution. At 14:20, a slade indicates the film was shot on December 10, 1954 with a Maurer camera by cameraman Muschinsky. Project MX-981 was the operative name for the human deceleration test program. At 14:56, the Sonic Wind's on-board camera is shown. At 15:27, the Northrop Aviation logo is displayed on the side of the rocket sled, followed by various shots of the sled prior to the test. Dr. Stapp is shown at 16:15 speaking to another Air Force officer. At 17:09, a shot from the base of the water brake shows the astonishing power of the sled as it decelerates. The December 10, 1954 test shown simulated an ejection from a jet aircraft at supersonic speeds. This test hit speeds up to 632 miles per hour. This set a ground speed record and put Stapp into the books as "Fastest Man on Earth". At 18:23, Dr. Stapp shows some ill effects of the deceleration, with his eyes pooling with blood in a "red out". Stapp is removed from the sled and taken to a hospital by ambulance for observation.