arai
12-24-2006, 3:50 AM
as I saw Ronnie's post "I believe I can fly" I thought I'd post up about my recent skydiving trip. Near the end of it I was short of the jump numbers I'd require for a wingsuit jump. However, after a checkout dive, my instructor said I'd do fine, so he agreed to take me up for instruction. I did my first flight course and flew my first wingsuit dives, and let me tell you it was something special
On the first day my best flight was the sunset load.. getting out, opening my wings, and looking up to find myself in formation with the twin otter in a nice banking turn, I was no longer a meat bomb, I was a bird flying with the aircraft. I just watched as the otter dove away back to the airport, while I felt suspended at 13000 feet (You have to understand that I usually look up and watch the aircraft get smaller as I fall away from it when I skydive, so it was a real trip to watch it dive down while I stayed aloft. I flew my pattern and back to the dropzone, managing to fly by a hot air balloon as it made its evening trip to altitude (they drop jumpers at sunset), it just made for some amazing visuals and a great end to my first day of wingsuiting.
I was so busy jumping that I didnt really get photo's or video (next time for sure) just wanted to share the experience. I have a few more photos but I'll have to wait until I'm back home to post them (I'm currently visiting family)
On the first day my best flight was the sunset load.. getting out, opening my wings, and looking up to find myself in formation with the twin otter in a nice banking turn, I was no longer a meat bomb, I was a bird flying with the aircraft. I just watched as the otter dove away back to the airport, while I felt suspended at 13000 feet (You have to understand that I usually look up and watch the aircraft get smaller as I fall away from it when I skydive, so it was a real trip to watch it dive down while I stayed aloft. I flew my pattern and back to the dropzone, managing to fly by a hot air balloon as it made its evening trip to altitude (they drop jumpers at sunset), it just made for some amazing visuals and a great end to my first day of wingsuiting.
I was so busy jumping that I didnt really get photo's or video (next time for sure) just wanted to share the experience. I have a few more photos but I'll have to wait until I'm back home to post them (I'm currently visiting family)