Ivan Chisov

Who is Ivan Chisov?

Ivan Mikhailovich Chisov was a Soviet Airforce lieutenant who is notable for surviving a fall of approximately 7,000 meters. Some references give the spelling of his last name as Chissov.

Lieutenant Chisov was a navigator on a Soviet Airforce Ilyushin Il-4 bomber. In January 1942, German fighters attacked his bomber, forcing him to bail out. Nicholas Zhugan, a crewman on Chisov's flight, later said that Chisov leapt from the plane at an altitude of approximately 7,000 meters though other references list Chisov's fall at 6,700 meters.

With the battle still raging around him, Lt. Chisov intentionally did not open his parachute, since he feared that he would just be an easy target for an angry German while he was dangling from his parachute harness. He planned on dropping below the level of the battle, then open his chute, once he was out of sight of the German fighters. However, due to the thin atmosphere at that altitude, he lost consciousness on the way down and was unable to pull the rip cord.

He hit the edge of a snowy ravine at an estimated speed of somewhere between 120 and 150 miles per hour, then slid, rolled, and plowed his way down to the bottom. The aerial battle had been watched by cavalry under the command of General Belov. When Chisov was seen falling to the ground, cavalrymen rushed to the site, and were surprised to find Chisov alive, still wearing his unopened parachute. Chisov regained consciousness a short time later.