“Plastics.” James nodded in understanding. We had agreed long ago to hate dearly the freaks that sat at the cheerleading table. They scared us with their love of ‘wild rides’.
He suffered broken bones and detached retinas, but out of these wildrides - by December 1954, Stapp had volunteered for 29 rocket sled deceleration and windblast experiments - came improved helmets, arm and leg restraints, better aircraft seats, stronger safety harnesses and techniques for positioning the body to help absorb powerful forces.