Without parachute drawn:
Given that he probably weighed ~73kg (~160lbs.), the wind would have to be blowing ~96.5kmh (~60mph)+ constantly to keep him in the air. That’s a damaging tropical storm.
With parachute drawn:
The wind wouldn’t have to be at dangerous levels. However, how on Earth could that parachute not be fucked?
P.s. I do not know the details to this story. I just thought it interesting to envision the scenario. Does anyone know if he had the chute drawn?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/taskandpurpose.com/incredible-story-marine-rode-lightning/amp/
'
"Rankin’s parachute was set to deploy automatically at 10,000 feet and though he wanted to open it earlier, he knew he couldn’t. The combination of freezing temperatures, decompression, and lack of oxygen would likely kill him before he reached the ground."
.....
"Suddenly, he felt a jolt as his chute opened prematurely. He was now stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm. The muscular 39-year-old fighter pilot and weightlifter was tossed about like a ragdoll as lightning crackled and snapped around him.
'
'I'd see lightning. Boy, do I remember that lightning,' Rankin told Time Magazine. 'I never exactly heard the thunder; I felt it. I remember falling through hail, and that worried me; I was afraid the hail would tear the chute. Sometimes I was falling through heavy water — I'd take a breath and breathe in a mouthful of water. Sometimes I had the sensation I was looping the chute.'"
...
"Again and again, Rankin was thrown around by the wind and came dangerously close to being tangled in his chute several times. He was bleeding from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth from the decompression. At one point, he became nauseous and threw up.
'
Finally, after what must have felt like ages, Rankin descended through the storm toward safety. All he had to do now was stick the landing.
'
Swept by fast winds, Rankin’s chute became tangled in branches and he slammed headfirst into the trunk of a tree. Staggering to his feet, he was able to get his bearings and after searching for a few minutes found a back country road. He waved down a passing car and was taken to a nearby store where an ambulance was called.
'
The whole ordeal lasted 40 minutes."
'
According to wiki it was a cumulonimbus thundercloud
Given that he probably weighed ~73kg (~160lbs.), the wind would have to be blowing ~96.5kmh (~60mph)+ constantly to keep him in the air. That’s a damaging tropical storm.
With parachute drawn:
The wind wouldn’t have to be at dangerous levels. However, how on Earth could that parachute not be fucked?
P.s. I do not know the details to this story. I just thought it interesting to envision the scenario. Does anyone know if he had the chute drawn?
'
"Rankin’s parachute was set to deploy automatically at 10,000 feet and though he wanted to open it earlier, he knew he couldn’t. The combination of freezing temperatures, decompression, and lack of oxygen would likely kill him before he reached the ground."
.....
"Suddenly, he felt a jolt as his chute opened prematurely. He was now stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm. The muscular 39-year-old fighter pilot and weightlifter was tossed about like a ragdoll as lightning crackled and snapped around him.
'
'I'd see lightning. Boy, do I remember that lightning,' Rankin told Time Magazine. 'I never exactly heard the thunder; I felt it. I remember falling through hail, and that worried me; I was afraid the hail would tear the chute. Sometimes I was falling through heavy water — I'd take a breath and breathe in a mouthful of water. Sometimes I had the sensation I was looping the chute.'"
...
'
Finally, after what must have felt like ages, Rankin descended through the storm toward safety. All he had to do now was stick the landing.
'
Swept by fast winds, Rankin’s chute became tangled in branches and he slammed headfirst into the trunk of a tree. Staggering to his feet, he was able to get his bearings and after searching for a few minutes found a back country road. He waved down a passing car and was taken to a nearby store where an ambulance was called.
'
The whole ordeal lasted 40 minutes."
'
According to wiki it was a cumulonimbus thundercloud