Sonic Wind Rocket Sled Test December 10 (1954)

Synopsis

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…

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Details

Running time

21 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage