swooping (skydiving )

[Bob McCarty]

Our local paper had an article about this contest out at our municipal airport which has a skydiving company there. The jumpers, at about 1000 feet up, go into a dive, and then when about 10-20 feet off of the ground swing horizontal and skim across a lake trying to keep one foot in the water through a series of four gates. At the end of the gates, they flair up and try to touch down at a certain marker. Also do speed, and distance through the course. My stomach was flipping just watching them do the dive. The canopies they use are 75-125 sq. ft. Fortunately, no accidents while I was there.

Bob

[Bigdog]

I think I'll just drive my cubs.....................

[Don McCombs]

I used to skydive when I was younger. Then I grew up.

[Kodiak]

Bigdog, I'm with you I think falling off my Cub seat is too far to fall

[George Willer]

It's hard for me to imagine a rational person jumping out of a perfectly good airplane that is not on fire.

[Jack fowler]

When in the Army I went to school for parachuting. It was nothing like that, more for getting from point “A” to “B” very quickly. I was very scared my first jump, I wet my fatigues. When I was picked up I was trying to make excuses why my trouser legs were wet, then I noticed most first timers legs were wet also. The reason for going to that particular school was to try to stay out of combat. The more schools you went to the more chances you had to be put in a training position.

No it didn’t work, and parachuting along with football gave me bad knees.

George said:

It's hard for me to imagine a rational person jumping out of a perfectly good airplane that is not on fire.

It’s not as bad as you think. After you get use to “jumping” its fun. One thing I always did was, pack my own chute.

Now, even if that plane is on fire I’ll ride it down

[Rudi]

I have to agree with George on this one....

Being in the Senior Service... we Navy types who were forced to fly to neat places like Inuvik and Alert in Herky Birds... never were too comfortable with the idea of having to exit an aircraft that was anymore than ZERO inches above a runway

Why anyone in their right mind would willingly jump our of a perfectly serviceable aircraft is (meant humourously) either:

1. Daft
2. Slightly cranially chanllenged
3. A fool
4. Drunk out of his ever loving mind
5. High on something other than the aspirin the MO prescribed for him and most likely an illegal substance

or is a pongo in which case, all of the above may apply..

We have a local sky-diving school, which apparently is a pretty safe operation.. but when one does take the chance and jumps out of an aircraft, well then, all bets are off.. you never know what will happen...

I think it was two years ago, we had a local skydiver fall to her death after going up for her first jump.. I think she was just 20 or so.... I have made my kids promise me that they will never do anything so foolish as that... or bungee jumping or anything remotely close.

I may be over-reacting.. but that is my reaction as a father. Unless it is absolutely necessary.. or is in connection with Military Service.. then exiting a perfectly serviceable aircraft is not only foolhardy.. it is taking your life in your hands...

[Wise Owl]

I always wanted to learn how to skydive but only managed to get to the SCUBA Diving which I did a lot of before all the babies came along!!! I found SCUBA Diving to be very relaxing and beautiful.

[Carm]

You should go for the skydive Wise Owl. Its a blast. Also, I have seen and been in the skydive aircraft and believe me they are NOT perfectly serviceable .

[Rudi]

Carm:

She may wanna go... but I gots the chains holding her down It would probably be a blast, and I have thought about it over the years.. but those fleeting moments in insanity soon depart quickly.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I wanted to try skydiving in my younger days, but now I take too long to heal.

[Bigdog]

Skydiving is one of those sports best enjoyed by watching others from the comfort and security of good ol' mother earth!

[Wise Owl]

Skydiving is one of those sports best enjoyed by watching others from the comfort and security of good ol' mother earth!

Sure but what's the fun in that? Where is the adrenalin rush? Where is your sense of adventure guys? Oh I get it, probably at the same place as Rudi's. Oh well

Hey, any S.C.U.B.A Divers out there?

[Wise Owl]

You should go for the skydive Wise Owl. Its a blast. Also, I have seen and been in the skydive aircraft and believe me they are NOT perfectly serviceable .

Some day when my other half releases the reins

I have been trying to get my girls to try different stuff. You know the adventurous stuff. So far I have managed to get some of them to try martial arts with me, running and we had 2 of our girls in Provincial Rugby last year (Now that is an adrenalin pumping sport.)

[George Willer]

Skydiving is one of those sports best enjoyed by watching others from the comfort and security of good ol' mother earth!

Sure but what's the fun in that? Where is the adrenalin rush? Where is your sense of adventure guys? Oh I get it, probably at the same place as Rudi's. Oh well

Hey, any S.C.U.B.A Divers out there?

I haven't been diving since I lost all my equipment in a disastrous fire 44 years ago. My diving was done in the days of double hose regulators. I doubt my wet suit would fit nowdays. It was shortly after that event I took up flying.