44,000 ft altitude means only about 1/7 of the atmospheric
pressure at sea level. So it's hard to believe a person
could maintain consciousness without oxygen pressure
equipment to get to 49,500 feet.

With half the atmosphere below 18,000 feet the U. S.
military requires oxygen masks above 15,000 feet. And if I
remember correctly they require full pressure suits above
50,000 feet altitude.

WDA

end



"Ron" wrote in message
...
"The greatest recorded height by any pilot without a
pressure cabin or even a pressure suit has been 49.500 feet
by Britsh Sqaudron
Leader G. W. H. Reynolds, D.F.C. in a Spitfire Mark VC
over Libya in 1942."

This is from the Guinness Book of World Records, edition
1980. Page 322, The Mechanical World.

Does anyone has more information about this feat? Couldn't
find anything on the internet.

Ron (when replying remove -blocked- )