***SPOLIERS**** Called back to the service WWII & Korean veteran Maj. Paul Peterson,John Payne,is slated to test out this new parachute by the US Air Force in being dropped from a B-57 at 43,000 feet. It turns out luckily for Paterson that he's third in line to test it out with both Capt. Mike Cavallero,Eddie Firestone, and Lt. Edward Simmions, Adam Kennedy, ahead of him. With Cavallero breaking his neck when his parachute failed to open properly and Simmons, the evening before he's to make the jump, suffering from an attack of appendicitis it's now up to the very reluctant Maj. Peterson to make the drop.
It's Maj. Peterson's good friend and head of the jump operation Col. William Hughes, Paul Kelly, who senses his fear of both flying and jumping since he's in his late 30's with a wife and young son back home. It's when Col. Hughes after talking things over with Paterson's wife Carol, Karen Steele, in seeing just how nervous and sweaty he's been after being assigned to do the jump he decides to take his place instead: Jumping some 43,000 feet and free falling for some 80% or some 35,000 feet before he opens his parachute!
****SPOILERS**** Finally getting his courage, that he left behind in Korea, back Paterson decide to do the jump against Col. Hughes and his wife Carol's advice. And Paterson succeeds with sky high flying colors despite-in suffering a black-out on the way down- not following orders. That's for him to spread eagle in cushioning the impact while falling to land safely. Not only did Paterson succeed in his some 6 mile high jump but proved to himself and everyone else that he still had it as well as proved that jumping 43,000 feet and free falling more then three quarters of the way down was possible with the right, the new parachute designed by a former Nazi scientist, equipment.
P.S This turned out to be actor Paul Kellys' last film. Kelly died on November 6, 1956 as he left the voting booth after casting his vote for president for Adlai Stevenson. As it turned out Adlai got trounced in the election by President Eisenhower who won in a landslide vote of 57.3% to Adlai's 41.9%!
It's Maj. Peterson's good friend and head of the jump operation Col. William Hughes, Paul Kelly, who senses his fear of both flying and jumping since he's in his late 30's with a wife and young son back home. It's when Col. Hughes after talking things over with Paterson's wife Carol, Karen Steele, in seeing just how nervous and sweaty he's been after being assigned to do the jump he decides to take his place instead: Jumping some 43,000 feet and free falling for some 80% or some 35,000 feet before he opens his parachute!
****SPOILERS**** Finally getting his courage, that he left behind in Korea, back Paterson decide to do the jump against Col. Hughes and his wife Carol's advice. And Paterson succeeds with sky high flying colors despite-in suffering a black-out on the way down- not following orders. That's for him to spread eagle in cushioning the impact while falling to land safely. Not only did Paterson succeed in his some 6 mile high jump but proved to himself and everyone else that he still had it as well as proved that jumping 43,000 feet and free falling more then three quarters of the way down was possible with the right, the new parachute designed by a former Nazi scientist, equipment.
P.S This turned out to be actor Paul Kellys' last film. Kelly died on November 6, 1956 as he left the voting booth after casting his vote for president for Adlai Stevenson. As it turned out Adlai got trounced in the election by President Eisenhower who won in a landslide vote of 57.3% to Adlai's 41.9%!