Science: Hotbox

One of the hazards of the air age is the risk of being roasted in a friction-heated cockpit. The fastest jet planes need refrigerating systems to keep cockpits bearable. But what if the cooler goes haywire while the plane is in flight? Air scientists have wondered what the pilot should do.

Should he try to bail out (a risky business) before the heat wave cooks him? Or should he hang on, sweating out the heat, until he gets his aircraft slowed down?

The only way to find out was to determine just what temperature a man can stand. The Air Force asked Dr....