UNIC Cranes Europe’s CEO, Graeme Riley fulfilled a life-long ambition and had the lift off of his life on Monday 12th April, when he flew a Russian MIG 29 UB fighter jet to the edge of space.
Already an experienced helicopter pilot, Graeme was taken over 72,000 feet to the edge of space in the MIG 29UB jet, from the MIG Aircraft Plant at Nizhny Novgorod, Sokol, Russia. He experienced speeds of Mach 2 or 2000 KM/H/ 1500 M/PH.
Graeme commented: “Being able to see the curvature of the earth and the dark sky above at 72,000 feet was spectacular. It’s a completely unrivalled experience. There are five people on the space station, which means I was the sixth highest man in the world on Monday – quite an achievement.”
The Mig jet, and Graeme wearing a G suit, completed 7G aerobatic manoeuvres including a tail slide, low level high speed passes and 360 degree loops to complete the experience. He also experienced weightlessness and high G forces over 7 times body weight .
