A Word
Flying With The Eagles
My son and I were always crazy about death-defying gravity drops, from the Ottawa Ex to Canada Wonderland...waiting patiently in line to get the front seat, and then standing, arms extended upwards as we hurtled downwards, screaming like banshees....what exhilaration!!!!
Ten years ago, my son Trevor experienced his first ‘real' parachute jump...and....he convinced me that I had to do it, to experience the ultimate.
On Father's Day, June 15th, shortly after my 70th B'Day, it was going to finally happen...at the Mile High Parachuting Club in Arnprior. A short explanatory video, pay your fees, sign the insurance waivers, get suited and you are ready....nervously laughing, posing for pictures, chatting with your tandem partner...and then its time to go, to jump. Two virgin jumpers, two tandems, my video photographer and the pilot board a Cessna 120 and we're off to 11, 000 feet (2 miles). Higher and higher we climb, talk, listen, look, then the final safety checks and I'm ready.
The door opens and Hurricane Dolly envelopes the cabin, the photographer is hanging to the wing strut, suspended like a spider...then I step out unto the little platform, right foot, left curled behind, tandem fastened to your back with 4 X 2500 lb hooks....."Are you ready to jump?"- if you don't say "YES" in 3 seconds, the jump is aborted! Three, two, one...and you jump....maximum velocity in a few seconds, what an awesome rush, we do 3 somersaults, hurtling ground-wards at about 120 mph...7000 ft in 30 seconds and the canopy unfolds...Thank You, Lord... you are hurled back upwards about 300ft, or so it seems...and then peace, calm, serenity, heaven-like, just the gentle flutter of the canopy, like waves at the seaside. Beautiful panorama below you, miles and miles of lakes, fields, trees, and perfect solitude. I take control of the canopy...Hard Right....180 degrees arc to the right, wheeeeeeeee...straightn her up....Hard Left, and wheeeeeeee, 180 degree arc to the left...and then we are homeward bound to the landing zone.
The landing is incredible....coming in at about 45 degree angle at great speed, I bring my legs upwards, straight out for a sliding landing. Tandem partner brings both toggles, hard down, and the canopy stops the forward motion, hovering momentarily like a bird of prey over its target...release and you slide in, effortlessly....12 ft from the marker.
Woweeeeee, the eagle has landed, pump the fist, hug the tandem, smile for the audience...and its over. Just wait until next year....what next??????
