You see, back in 1991, I joined the Army as an Airborne MP. That is, a military police officer who jumps out of airplanes and parachutes down to the ground. I loved it, but the landings were often very rough (I spent three days in a hospital one time.) It was fun but we were using round canopies that you really couldn't stear. I wanted to have more fun, so in my free time I learned how to skydive and became part of the Green Beret Sport Parachute Club.
Skydiving involves freefall - you jump out of the airplane or helicopter from 13000 to 15000 feet up - freefall for a minute or so - then at 2500 ft you pull a pilot chute which catches air and then pulls/releases your main parachute (kinda the same thing as pulling a rip-cord) - then you enjoy a fun parachute ride for 3-5 minutes - then you land as if you were taking a step off a curb. It is fun!!!!
Being a Paratrooper (jumping out of Army aircraft and using their round canopies) is different. You jump from 900 to 1200 feet - when you exit the aircraft your parachute immediately deploys - you then ride the parachute with virtually no stearing capabilities - you try to avoid the other hundreds of paratroopers (who can't really stear either) - then you prepare to land (prayer, much prayer) - you land by doing a PLF (Parachute Landing Fall) - A PLF has you land kinda like how you would expect a banana to land - it has 5 points of contact that you are suppose to hit in this order: Feet, calf, thigh, buttocks, triceps - when you land you could be going in any direction including backwards - This causes some to perform the unauthorized form of the PLF - They are called FBHs (Feet-Butt-Head) and provide the paratrooper with a nice headache (or a trip to the hospital in my case)
So... Skydiving is much more safe and fun. (Are you reading this April?) Accidents rarely occur. The reason skydiving accidents get so much publicity primarily because of the nature in which it happens. I do not know the actual statistics, but I would guess that I am taking more of a risk with my life just by driving my car on the freeways here in southern california.
But, then again, driving is virtually a necessity in today's world. Skydiving is not. So April gave me the next best thing: Time in a tunnel.
A wind tunnel is a vertical shaft that provides a virtical thrust of wind. People can then ride/hover on it and do what normally you would have to jump out of an airplane to do. It is a very safe and fun activity.
Thank you so much April! I had a blast (pun intended)!
Here are some pictures:
2 comments:
I just wanted you to know that I was not reading this post. :)
You know how I tried to post everyday last year? You should post a different job you've had everyday this year! :-)
You've got a very thoughtful wife there, my friend. It's amazing that you have actually jumped out of airplanes more times than I'll probably even fly in one.
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