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January 20, 2014

The Most Dangerous Profession: The Human Cannonball

aa_human-cannonball.jpg

Traveling upwards of 70 miles per hour (the world record is 74.6 mph or 120.057 km/hr),
these human missiles can be shot to as far 200 feet away and reach an altitude of upwards of 75 feet. It has even been reported that human cannonballs have been known to blackout in mid-air, due to the extreme G-force (as much as nine times normal gravity). And if all of this doesn’t quite meet your danger quota, landing is actually the most hazardous part of being a human cannonball. Today I Found Out

Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 20, 2014 10:14 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

"Landing is actually the most hazardous part of being a human cannonball."

Really? Thanks for the clarification. That's akin to Airborne School: It's not the fall that kills you; it's that sudden stop at the end that really ruins your day.

Posted by: Darkwater at January 20, 2014 10:54 AM

I once met a retired human cannonball. He told me that right before he would get shot out of the cannon, he would get loaded. He also claimed that there were very few human cannonballs of his era who were of his caliber.

Posted by: Callmelennie at January 20, 2014 2:59 PM

I wonder what caliber Christie is? Would he cause an overpressure bursting the barrel? Inquiring minds...

Posted by: Peccable at January 21, 2014 4:46 AM

What goes up ...

Great, now I got that Blood Sweat & Tears tune stuck in my head. sigh.

Posted by: chasmatic at January 21, 2014 6:43 AM

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