Video: William Rankin, the Man Who Rode the Thunder

Editorial Staff

Monday, April 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The article highlights the legendary survival of William Rankin, who ejected from his aircraft at 47,000 feet and 500 knots, enduring a 40-minute fall and living to tell the tale.
It notes that while Rankin survived, similar incidents, especially those involving individuals drawn into thunderstorms under canopy, do not always end in survival.

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The story of William Rankin’s ejection at 47,000 feet and 500 knots is legendary, not only because the fall took him 40 minutes, but also because he lived to talk about it. There are other and more recent cases of people who have been drawn into thunderstorms under canopy and not every one ends in survival.

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