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8a Look at the photos and read the extracts from The Story of John Paul Stapp, by Nick T.
Spark, and answer the following questions.
1 When and where do you think it took place?
2 What do you think the aim of the test was?
3 What do you think John Stapp’s profession was?
4 What equipment do you think was
used?
5 What do you think happened in the
experiment?

With five seconds to go Stapp activated the
sled's movie cameras, and prepaired for the
shock. Sonic Wind’s nine rockets detonated
with a terrific roar, sending out trails of fire
and blasting Stapp down the track.
... Sonic Wind hit the water brake. The rear of
the sled tore awav. The front continued, hardly
slowing at all until it hit the second water
brake. Then, spray exploded from the back of
Sonic Wind. It stopped like it had hit a
concrete wall.

b ► 10.4 Read an extract from a documentary about the experiment and check your
answers.

Narrator: In the late 1940s and early '50s, the United States Air Force carried out a series of
experiments to explore how much physical stress the human body could withstand. A key aim
was to test how much G-force pilots were able to cope with and see what would happen if they
exceeded their limits. Led by Air Force doctor John Paul Stapp, a number of spectacular tests
were carried out at Edwards Air Force Base in California, a location suitable for the
experiments thanks to its 600-metre rail track, specially designed for high-speed rocket tests. A
rocket sled, capable of reaching speeds approaching the sound barrier, was mounted on the
track. On top of the sled, named Sonic Wind, researchers fixed a seat, intended for an
abnormally brave volunteer. Refusing to give the dangerous job to a member of his team, the
man in the hot seat was John Stapp himself. Over several runs, Stapp was subjected to
progressively greater extremes offeree. Each time, he resisted. Eventually, the time came to take
the ultimate risk, to surpass what many doctors believed to be a deadly level of G-force. And so
on December 10th 1954,Stapp was strapped onto Sonic Wind for the mother of all rides.

c Complete the following data on the Sonic Wind
test using the figures in the box.
1.2 3 20 46 1015
1 Max speed: km/h
2 Acceleration from 0 to max speed:
seconds
S Acceleration force: Gs
4 Deceleration time: seconds
5 Deceleration force: Gs

d ►10.5 Read the next part of the documentary

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