Talk:William Rankin

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A fact from William Rankin appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 12 June 2008, and was viewed approximately 4,821 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that William Rankin is the only person to survive a parachuting descent through a thunderstorm cloud?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2008/June.

Wikipedia

5-minute free-fall descent time unrealistic

By my calculations, a chuteless skydiver would hit the ground in about 4.3 minutes jumping from 47,000 feet. Either the 5-minute free-fall time prior to parachute opening is arrived at by some generous rounding, or my math is off. Robert K S (talk) 02:01, 12 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Updrafts? 71.110.141.29 (talk) 02:19, 12 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

(forgive the formatting of my comments, I'm new and don't know wikipedia conventions). This article seems to me somewhat unencyclopedic. It sounds more like a first-hand account, like a man telling his wild story at the bar. Is the source credible? Does it present the information contained in the article as verified facts, or as an account by the jumper? In the latter case, the articel should also present the jump story as a personal account. I say this because I feel that there are many doubtful portions to the story. E.g., I could be wrong, but I believe tat drowning should be less likely in a cloud (where the water is condensating but some of it is still in breathable vapour form) than immediately below, where it is in water droplets. I mean, the air in the cloud may have 100% humidity, but we commonly get 100% humidity on the ground and can breath just fine. Obviously, we don't drown in the rain either. The drowning bit, and other parts as well, seem to me a bit fancyful, which is why I question the source.(talk) 00:50, 12 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hi. The math is likely rounded off (and who would have time to calculate precisely during a fall through a thunderstorm?). If you believe the article's tone sounds unencyclopedic, you can try to fix it. The book in question is probably the best source out there for his account, but if you find a better one, feel free to add information. However, the subject in question should be sufficiently notable, as he is the only person to survive such a fall. The source is a reliable book, and since Rankin is the only person who could supply the information, other than maybe loss of contact by millitary personnel and the hospital doctors. Now, about drowning, the book mentions it in a believable way. He was submerged in the downdrafts of the cloud, which were constantly being carried up with the hailstones and rain. The rain may have been concentrated andin sheets or torrents, and Rankin may have been upside-down at times and badly injured. Thanks. ~A H 1^(TCU) 00:19, 14 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ambiguity in account

"Flying at 47,000 ft (14.3 km) and at mach 0.82, a loud bump and rumble was heard from the engine, the rpm fell to zero, and the light began flashing.[1] As he pulled the lever to deploy the auxiliary power, it unexpectedly broke off. "

"the light began flashing"? Which light? There isn't normally an RPM indicator in 'light' form, as turbine-engine aircraft usually have only a gauge for percentage (e.g., "80 % of max thrust" etc). Stall warning light maybe? Fire warning? Generator off-line warning?

Also, what "unexpectedly broke off," the APU or the lever to activate it? (Seems unlikely it was the former, but the sentence isn't clear.) C d h (talk) 03:17, 12 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hi. The article used to say "the light began flashing". It was the fire light, and was probably removed because it was written "FIRE", so it was a fire warning. By the way, the source mentions this as a one-in-a-million emergency scenario. As in "broke off", it means the lever came away in his hands as he pulled on it. The source mentions how unlikely this scenario happening normally was, and that one may find it funny, but Rankin thought it anything but. If you need the sentence to be clarified, feel free to fix it. Thanks. ~A H 1^(TCU) 00:19, 14 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lieutenant Colonel William Rankin (c. 1947 — July 6, 2009)

The article states that he was in WWII, so the estimated birth date seems questionable. (fotoguzzi)69.64.235.42 (talk) 04:53, 14 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]