Dead Reckoning

Getting ready for another demonstration jump into a “Tee it up for the Troops” event.  I’ve been bringing in the American flag for a number of these golf events this summer because it’s the least I can do to help support our veterans and their families.  Seeing the flag brought in under canopy really makes the event special but nothing beats the time that a Bald Eagle flew with me for a few minutes while I towed the flag over the spectators.  When I landed everyone was amazed that I was able to train an eagle to fly with me like that.  As tempting as it was to take credit for it I admitted to everyone that it was just a coincidence.  The veterans thought that made it even more amazing.  If you’d like to help support the cause go to    teeitupforthetroops.org  for more information.

Sorry for the lack of new posts the last week but I’ve been at Skydive Chicago getting checked out to fly the Twin Otter.  While I was there a large group of jumpers were attempting to set a new world record for the largest linked formation of skydivers in vertical flight.  Which means they were all falling head first holding hands, not as easy as it sounds.  The plane I was getting checked out in was part of the six plane formation used to haul 142 skydivers up to 18,000 feet for the record attempts.  As a rookie Otter pilot I wasn’t allowed to fly the formation loads but I did get to ride along on one of the attempts.  Actually the view from the ground was spectacular, and the sound of 142 skydivers falling through the sky at 180 Mph was incredible.  On Friday they successfully linked 142 jumpers together but when the judges reviewed the video they found that one jumper had the wrong grip, it must be perfect.  The next day the organizers cut a few of the jumpers that weren’t doing so well and went up with 138 for one more try.  With just seconds to spare the last jumper took his grip and set a new world record.  The party that night was epic.

 

Black Betty and the jumpers landing after one of the sunset record attempts.

The look on my son’s face will let you know how much he liked his first tandem skydive. He wanted to do back flips out of the plane, pull the ripcord and do lots of spins under canopy, I was more than happy to oblige him. After the back flips, which would’ve been a lot easier if he’d arched a bit more, number one son spent the remainder of the free fall geeking the camera until pull time. When I tapped him on the shoulder, my signal that we are about to die if we don’t slow down a bit, Connor pulled the ripcord and proceeded to scream with joy as the parachute opened. We got lucky and had a nice cloud to fly through before the boy started spinning the canopy so much that I was getting just a little dizzy. We had a good stand up landing and then I got the best present a father can receive, a big hug and a very sincere “Thanks Dad!” It was great to skydive with my son and from his reaction I can safely say there will be many more.

This has been the year of WWII vets coming out to the drop zone for one last jump.  Today Cluade came out to get current on his parachuting skills.  His last jump was from a B-17 over Belgium.  After spending 11 months in a German POW camp I guess he just lost interest in the sport for a while.   It’s good to have him back.