Kittinger to Open PIA International Parachute Symposium

The Parachute Industry Association is pleased to announce that Joe Kittinger will be the guest speaker at the opening ceremony for The 2001 International Parachute Symposium. On August 16th, 1960, then a Captain, Kittinger set three of his collection of world records as part of the Excelsior III Project. The Highest Parachute Jump - 102,800 feet, the Longest Parachute Freefall - 4 Minutes and 36 seconds and the First Man to exceed the Speed of Sound without an airplane or space vehicle - 714 mph during freefall. His multiple World Records includes parachuting, ballooning and flying. After 28 years in the United States Air Force he retired at the rank of Colonel. Col. Kittinger accumulated 1,000 hours of combat flying over Southeast Asia with 483 missions. His flying career includes two emergency ejections.

One occurred during his third combat tour. He was shot down in an F-4 near Hanoi on May 1st, 1972 and was held as a POW until his release in March 1973. After retirement, he settled into the civilian world of aviation as Vice President of Flight Operations for Rosie O'Grady's Flying Circus. A position he held for 14 years. Col. Kittinger is currently an Aviation and Aerospace consultant, a Barnstormer in a 1929 New Standard Open Cockpit Bi-Plane and the Chief Skywriter for the Great American Flying Circus. The dates for the 2001 Symposium are January 29th through February 2nd, 2001, at the Town & Country Resort, San Diego, CA. The opening ceremony with Col. Kittinger will be held on, Tuesday January 30th, 2001.

For more information check out: http://www.pia.com/symposium/Symposium2001.htm

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