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R. Flanagan Gray entering the Iron Maiden on the Johnsville Centrifuge in 1958. The Iron Maiden was Gray's brainchild that was the culmination of a high G physiology project conducted on the centrifuge in the 1950s and early 1960s. it was a "total water immersion capsule" designed to completely immerse a human test subject inside of its cavity. Water immersion was known to provide partial protection against G forces; the goal of this research was to evaluate the maximum about of G protection that complete immersion in water could provide. Gray holds the record for enduring the highest amount of exposure to centrifugal acceleration. On Dec 7, 1958, Gray rode the centrifuge in the Iron Maiden, sustaining 31.25G for 5 seconds. Two others rode the Iron Maiden to 26 and 28G respectively. In this photo, you can see Gray's mouth taped shut in order to prevent air leakage during his G run. Gray held his breath during his record-breaking run as well since the face plate on the Iron Maiden was leaking on the day of his historic centrifuge ride.
Eleanor Ann O'Rangers - March 6, 2022

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