The Absolute Ceiling?

Fighting and bombing will probably go no higher than 40,000 ft.--less than eight miles--unless new gadgets are perfected.

The trouble is in man himself. Man has been surpassed by his machines. Even pure oxygen cannot ward off bad muscular coordination; and the body and brain become weary, slow down above 35,000 to 40,000 ft. The human body, which lives a hand-to-mouth existence at any altitude, stores up little or no oxygen. The greatest hazard for altitude airmen is their conviction that they are perfectly all right when a reduced oxygen supply actually makes them act silly.

Experiments detailed in a new issue of the Journal of the Aeronautical Sciences showed that 44,000 ft., with oxygen masks, is probably the absolute upper limit for flying. In a low-pressure chamber which reproduced conditions at that altitude, subjects passed the limit of effective activity, were in a precarious state. For all practical purposes, the limit is below 44,000 ft.

The problem of keeping warm high up is less critical. Temperatures of almost --70DEG Fahrenheit are encountered at extreme altitudes, but electrically heated suits have proved fairly satisfactory.

Jules Verne minds figure that war planes will go higher yet, with pressure cabins and cockpits. Military men are not so sure. One explosive shell could destroy the pressure, kill the crew.

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