Sheree's Sky Dive page

Sheree and Sky Diving

Back in the dim past, people jumped out of planes when the plane was rather ill, and rarely for any other reason.

Nowadays, with the increase in madness suffered by many in the world, people jump out of perfectly-performing aeroplanes for reasons other than suicide. They do it for fun, for the adrenaline rush, for dares.

I'm not certain what Sheree's reasons were, but I'm now jealous, and want to jump out of an aeroplane with a parachute myself.

The day dawned bright and warm, almost windless. Perfect. We choofed off to the Sydney Sky Diving centre near Wilton, at a tiny airfield about 55km south of my QTH. Quite an impressive setup there, actually, with cabins and caravans for the dedicated who want to jump all week, weather permitting. The usual array of meeting rooms, canteen, dunnies, huge barbecue pit for the roaring log fire-type BBQ's after a tough day of jumping out of planes, like stepping off the train on the way to work - all in a day's work!!!

Finally, paperwork all completed - lots of insurance forms! - it was time for Sheree to get ready.

We left the Paddock at 0630, and arrived at Wilton at 0715, with the sun displayed low in a brilliantly clear blue sky. There was a thick high fast-moving beam of cloud to the north, probably the trace of a massive jet stream flowing from SSW to NNE. After registering and signing umpteen forms, including an accident insurance policy, we waited. On a schedule of about one flight every 35 minutes, Sheree was on Load 5, very nervous.

So, by 0940, she was in the air - almost too late to turn back. I lost sight of the plane till it droned by at 4000m North to South. In binoculars I could see black dots drop from the plane - parachutists! I followed one dot for over a minute before I saw the 'chute unfurling - not Sheree! There are nearly always 2 or 3 tandem jumpers taking video/stills ie 3 people groups. 14 people all up jumped from her flight. 55 seconds of free-fall, then "snap" opened the 'chute. Now came over 5 minutes of descent, down to a feather-light standing touchdown. "It was horrible!" were her first words on the ground. She will do it again, as a tandem jump, and she will enjoy it more then, knowing what to expect next time.

She now has a 7-minute long video of the free-fall, and a minute or two of the grounding. Also, a roll of stills to bring it all back. That photographer!

	(Full image is 408 x 620, 45kB) Sheree just suited up, Kerry in support.
	(Full image is 246 x 668, 29kB) Sheree, very pensive. Only ten minutes to liftoff. She was second on the plane, thus expected to be second-last out. As it turned out, she was last off for a 55-second free-fall from 4000m.
	(Full image is 338 x 203, 16kB) Rolling off on takeoff - lots of noise and some dust. The plane had about 14 jumpers aboard - with three tandem pairs and two cameramen.
	(Full image is 613 x 357, 36kB) I was photographing the plane as it passed. Sheree's video cameraman was in the copilot's seat, filming me in passing.
	(Full image is 542 x 261, 20kB) After a short run, up she goes.
	(Full image is 768 x 512, 18kB) Sheree's tandem is on the left of these three. They were still about 800m high, almost two minutes into the jump.
	(Full image is 284 x 280, 10kB) How much further is it down? 400 meters and dropping...
	(Full image is 336 x 332, 14kB) Still a few hundred meters up, and coming in fast.
	(Full image is 546 x 451, 30kB) She was reasonably happy by this time, managing a wave to the proud parents below.
	(Full image is 568 x 327, 22kB) Have to have your knees pulled up clsoe for an assisted landing. Don't want to cramp the jump master's style in a rather critical moment.
	(Full image is 251 x 480, 14kB) Gosh, the ground comes up fast!
	(Full image is 492 x 310, 30kB) Landed at last - walking back.

 
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 Contact Geoffm at eagles.bbs.net.au (Replace the " at " with "@" to actually be able to mail me)
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This file's URL: http://www.eagles.bbs.net.au/~geoffm/skydiver.htm
Author: Geoff Mutton
First created 1999-01-09
Last updated 1999-01-09 - International Organisation for Standards rules OK!