| During
one of my many missions (I have about 5,000 hrs, and a
few million miles or so), I was testing a prototype high
speed camera system. The camera
mount was located just inside the paratroop doorway
(portside) of a WC-130E aircraft. The camera itself was
mounted on a balanced gimble, which was connected
to a framework and a seat on the floor of the aircraft.
The operator, me, wore a harness that was clipped to a
D-ring in the floor. Before takeoff, part of the
checklist had us test the length of the harness by
standing in the doorway and leaning forward, and
adjusting so that we could not go beyong the edge of the
door. I performed all the checklist items, but, of
course this was still a prototype system first test. So,
there I was, at 22,000 feet with the door open, sitting
in the camera chair, with my feet propped on each edge
of the door.
I
wore my helmet and mask
(HGU-26P/MBU-5P), NOMEX flightsuit, and winter jacket
over long underwear. My right boot slipped off the edge,
into the slipstream, and it was so strong, it pulled me
halfway out of the door and pinned me to the fuselage! I
could not reach the microphone button attached to the
camera yoke, so no one could hear me! I flailed around
and saw my fellow crewmen huddled together with their
backs to me, oblivious to what was going on! Man, it was
getting real cold! The others eventually noticed me and
rushed over, and pulled me in. What a relief! I must say
though the view was magnificent! After the fact! Anyway,
we had forgotten some
elementary geometry. Adjusting the harness while
standing is one thing, but the angle and length changes
when you sit down. was lucky I only went halfway out!
Needless to say, we changed the checklist! |
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