John Paul Stapp and Deceleration Research Part II: Windblast and Deceleration Tests at Holloman Air Force Base

After WW II, the development of ejection seats for escape from high speed, high altitude aircraft posed a number of new problems regarding human tolerance to linear deceleration, windblast and tumbling. The research conducted by Colonel John Stapp at Edwards AFB under Project MX-981 was limited by the capacity of the 2000 ft deceleration track, prompting a relocation of the research to make use of the 3500 ft track at Holloman AFB to address those problems. This paper reviews the factors that led up to this move and the tests conducted on the Holloman Track.