By Gerry Kurth
Along with 5 family members, I recently jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. It’s something I’ve always been curious about but never quite got it together. It’s different and intimidating. But I’m understating!
My 80th birthday became an opportunity to gather the family and do it. It also became harder to chicken out with others involved. The experience turned out to be more exhilarating and profound than I had feared. Instead of just entertainment, it became a meaningful event.
They say “Those who jumped can’t explain; those who haven’t jumped can’t understand.” So consider this my attempt to bridge that gap – a mix of storytelling and a bit of an experiment in communications.
It’s for those who might be considering it, but maybe even for those a little bit curious.
Twenty some family members attended and 5 additional first time jumpers signed up. There was a rewarding ripple effect as the non-jumpers and skeptics became enthusiastic supporters. A camaraderie and sense of group adventure evolved. The only unstated rule: don’t chicken out!
The focal point of the complex is the landing zone (LZ). The runway is incidental. This LZ was the Connecticut Parachutists in Ellington, CT. It had a very relaxed vibe; the opposite of a “real” airport. It’s more like a “Zen zone” where the only turbulence is in your stomach. A launch pad for new experiences?
Only about one in every hundred individuals takes the plunge into skydiving, and understandably so.
After age 18, there are no age restrictions. The age record currently belongs to a 104 year old woman. You are also expected to be in “generally good health.”
There is no conditioning required, so it’s like finishing a marathon or climbing a mountain without the training!! It feels a little like cheating.
The #1 concern with everyone, of course, is safety. That’s not helped by waivers which require you to sign your life away. The waivers are unambiguous. The first sentence goes something like “You could die.” Some call it “skydieing.” The truth is that safety is a non-issue, except for those who choose to take risks. It “only” exists in your head. But then, perception can be reality.
The entire adventure consisted of the ascent to 10-12,000 feet (about 2 miles), jumping out, free falling, and then drifting down with the parachute deployed. That was the theory, at least.
As we headed down the wooden ramp towards the plane, it reminded me of a cave man’s version of the astronauts entering the space shuttle. This felt more like a slow shuffle to my destiny. Somebody added some dark humor and called it a “death march.”
A Cessna 172, a popular skydiving workhorse, would take me to my destiny but I did not know it then. I figured the club bought it at a huge discount with half the side missing – the side, it would turn out, that served as our jump opening. It was secured with what looked like a shower curtain with flimsy plastic bars. Everything about it screamed safety!
The inside was about 4’ high by 4’ wide by maybe 10’ long. There was barely room for 5 passengers. In our case, we had 2 sets of tandem jumpers and a cameraman.
You’re sitting in your instructor’s lap while rubbing elbows with another stranger. Cozy!
As we approached jumping altitude, the ground looked just like it does when taking off in a “real” plane: the familiar landscape mosaic. This time that scene had a new meaning, though. It seemed much more palpable, since I was to have direct contact with a part of that mosaic in the near future. Hopefully the contact would be near the landing zone and hopefully at a low speed.
That first step out of the plane and the 30 second free-fall is what this was all about: a blend of terror and awe that began as we inched our way to that open door, but the wait was mercifully short. Some joker had even stenciled ”No Loitering” on the ledge, so there was no time to contemplate my possible demise. Meanwhile, the videographer/acrobat was clinging to the opening like Spiderman. He had to time his exit precisely, since he had less than 30 seconds to get his shots of a moving object hurdling to earth: Me!
Then there was a gentle nudge. I had no idea what to expect, but braced for all hell to break loose.
The instant I left the plane, adrenaline and awe took over. …As if I had been propelled into my own cosmic realm. It was total exhilaration. All fear stayed behind on the plane.
I had felt terror in the plane, yet felt “safety” in the free-fall as I was streaking towards earth at 120 mph. Think about that paradox….
Possibilities, growth, enrichment, and new memories were all on the other side of that terror. It seems the most interesting experiences await us on the other side of fear.
This also flashed through my mind in those 30 seconds: just how small we are in the grand scheme of things, but also how incredible life can be when we step outside our comfort zones.
No, this was not a roller coaster ride!
To add to the surreal scene, the videographer appeared out of nowhere a few feet from my face motioning me to wave!!
How could all this have happened in 30 seconds? At that moment, the instructor pulls the rip cord and the big chute opens. You go from 120 mph to a slow glide. It’s like someone hit the brakes on your adrenaline rush. It’s also the first time I became conscious of the fact that I probably wasn’t going to die.
When I landed, there was great relief, but I was also struck by this weird and fervent evangelism to share and encourage all human beings to do this at least once in their lives. Dear wife Joanne is happy to note that this compulsion has since waned a little.
You relive that jump out of the plane, the free fall, and glide over and over like a video loop.
Think of this not as an activity or a bucket list item, but as an experience in exhilaration.
Try to chat with your instructor to decide how actively you might like to participate. Also study the sequence of events in a tandem jump. It’s well documented.
Wear a flight suit if possible. Maybe wear a cape!
Here are three videos of the jump:
– Highlights (1 minute)
– Slow motion of jump (3 minutes)
– Detailed highlights (4 minutes)
Reflections
Most can’t wait to jump again immediately upon landing. Me? I could definitely wait … but I did not want to wait to encourage everyone to consider it during their lifetime.
SKYDIVING – WHY?
A. Had been thinking about it for a few years and did not want to leave it on
the table.
B. Two sets of motivators for others: Bucket list and adrenaline junkies
C. 99% of people never do it…and for good reason!
D. There are those who always wanted to do it or swore they’d never do it
E. I hear it’s less expensive than cocaine and recommend over drugs and
jumping off buildings
- SAFETY
A. Always viewed as inherently dangerous, but it’s actually safer than
driving to that airport or being hit by lightning. Nonetheless, images of
imminent danger linger in your head …and that’s what matters.
B. Statistically, tandem jumping is twice as safe as solo jumping. It’s more
scripted and predictable. Also, a tandem instructor needs at least 500
jumps. Most have over a 1,000.
C. A surprise to most is that there are regulations galore: visibility
requirements, cloud ceilings, jumping altitudes based on experience,
strict licensing and renewal rules, max time allowed for free-fall and
minimum altitude for deploying the main chute.
D. Even the minimum requirements for a simple solo jump are demanding.
Most drop zones require at least one tandem jump. You then jump with
your own parachute with 2 instructors alongside for guidance while
you’re getting hand signals. The jump suits have handles on them for the
instructors to grab onto. So you do maybe 6 – 10 guided jumps before
you truly solo. Licensing and renewals are also demanding. It takes a
serious commitment of time and money. The solo license, aka an
Accelerated Free-fall (AFF) license costs about $5k and a month or so to
complete. Costs and time commitments vary by Drop Zone, but basic
certification requirements are standardized by the United States
Parachute Association (USPA). - THE OCCASION
A. I chose my 80th birthday as a joint treat for me and others. Birthday
treats included an offer for anyone to jump.
B. There was a rewarding ripple effect of my instigation: 5 others wanted to
join me in the jump, and the rest actually became enthusiastic
supporters. There evolved a palpable Camaraderie and sense of group
adventure. The only unstated rule seemed to be: don’t chicken out! - THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT
A. Waivers – They are very direct in pointing out that you may die. 10
minutes of signatures and
waivers.
B. Also must be 18 and in “reasonably good health.” No upper age
restrictions. I read the record is 104. Video here:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3wnmuECUeLA&si=thRH7tXC0g5XB8HR
C. The airport environment – The heart of the complex is the landing
zone (LZ). That’s the focal point. This LZ is was the Connecticut
Parachutists in Ellington, CT The runway is incidental. There is also an
administrative complex and a place to fold the chutes. Then there were
some trailers for transient instructors. It was a very relaxed vibe; the
opposite of a “real” airport. It’s more like a “Zen zone” where the only
turbulence is in your stomach. Random video here
https://youtu.be/WW_vPOXpSNc
D. People – Relaxed and patient groups of students were mulling around,
including “drop zone junkies.” They were comparing notes, passing on
knowledge, and waiting for rides or the weather to change.
E. Philosophy – A humble launch pad for new experiences
F. My consolation: They’ve been there for 60 years. My rationale was that
if there had been frequent casualties, they would not be here. - WEATHER AND CLOUD CEILING
A. We were surprised at the dependence on the weather. Duh. Never
thought about it, since my brain had been conditioned with pictures of
people jumping in clear blue skies. Skies in Connecticut in the middle of
May don’t necessarily conform to those stereotypes!
B. In our case, weather turned out to be pivotal and added lots of suspense
to the day.
C. Lesson learned: The weather can be relaxing if you let it go, like the
regulars seemed to be doing. It can lead to anxiety if you don’t let it go
…like for some of us. - HANGING OUT
A. Ultimately the delays were relaxing and fun, but it took us a while to
realize you can’t influence the direction and speed of clouds. You don’t
get much experience dealing with clouds flying a desk in an air
conditioned office or watching TV.
B. It was also a relaxed environment for the kids to hang out in. They were
in an open field and had turned a huge Styrofoam target into a
trampoline. - TIMING: AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER
A. Prospects for our day and rain day looked grim from a month earlier. A
downer…
B. It turned out it was a great morning, but we were advised to try to move
our afternoon scheduled get together up in case weather rolled in. Hope!
C. Despite everyone’s early arrival, the plane was put on weather hold 15
minutes after everyone got there. Another downer…
D. More then 3 hours later, there was no break in the clouds and we were
getting ready to pack it in. It was the perfect opening for me to regroup
and kick the can down the road! Relief!!
E. As we were about the leave, the pilot announced there was enough of
an opening to go up. My heart sank. Oh sh**t! - THE CALL
A. My 22 year old grandson Gideon and I were nominated to go on that first
ride.
B. Gideon really wanted to go and felt like he had won the lottery, since we
were not sure if any other rides would be possible that day. Me? I felt like
I had been struck by a lightning bolt.
C. It turns out that all 6 jumpers eventually went up, but the last group did
not jump because the cloud ceiling was just below the required 7,500
feet. They came back down in the plane, sans the videographer, who
was asked to jump to lighten the landing load.
D. The entire family sympathized and cheered us on as the jumpers went
up and landed. - SUITING UP & INSTRUCTIONS
A. You start by putting on a harness. This club did not make jumpsuits
available that day.
B. The 5 minutes of instructions from your tandem instructor (TI) consisted
of “arch with head back – one tap on shoulders to spread arms – keep
feet up on landing.” No mention of aerodynamics, terminal velocity or
even Newton’s law.
C. In other words, you were on your own and were to stay out of the way of
the TI. No meaningful participation. Just enjoy the ride!. - DEATH MARCH
A. After suiting up and getting those very brief instruction, we went down
the wooden ramp to get to the plane. ..With zero training. Hearts are
pounding, but everyone is smiling for the cameras.
B. Reminded me of cave man’s version of the astronauts going into the
space shuttle. This was more like a slow shuffle to your destiny.
C. Some called it the “death march.” Too much dark humor for me! - JAMMING INTO A CESSNA 172
A. I later found out that plane is a popular skydiving workhorse, but did not
know it then. At first look, I figured the club had bought it somewhere at a
huge discount with half the side missing – the side that served as the
door.
B. It felt like a tiny tin can. The door opening was secured with a makeshift
plastic curtain that looked like a shower curtain with flimsy plastic bars
C. Someone called it a metal trash can with cardboard wings. Nothing
screams safety like a DIY shower curtain on a flying tin can.
D. The inside of that tin can was about 4’ high by 4’ wide by maybe 10’
long. There was barely room for 5 passengers. In our case, we had 2
sets of tandem jumpers and a cameraman.
E. You’re sitting in your instructor’s lap while rubbing elbows with another
stranger. Cozy! - TAKING OFF
A. That was a fun part of the ride and wasn’t particularly intimidating. - GAINING ALTITUDE
A. After about 5 minutes, I was ready to do what needed to be done, but
the low powered Cessna with a meager 150 horsepower (about a third of
a newer SUV) took about 20 minutes to climb to our drop altitude. It
seemed like a lot longer.
B. I stayed calm and tried to look cool. There was no obligation to make
small talk, since the engine noise drowns everything out anyway.
C. I did ask my instructor a couple of times what the altitude showed on his
altimeter, as if I knew what I was doing. I don’t think anyone bought my
professionalism
D. The pilot, 2 instructors and a cameraman knew exactly what was going
on. They had done this a few thousand times. Literally. Then there were
the 2 first timers fearing for their lives. I watched my grandson’s face
frozen with a mix of excitement and terror. Interesting observation, but it
did not relieve my own terror one iota.
E. Meanwhile, the spectators on the ground could hear the noise of the
plane circling above the drop zone, shrinking to a tiny spec like a giant
mosquito. At altitude, the jumpers are a pin head, barely visible until the
drogue chute deploys, with people speculating who just fell out of the
plane. - REACHING 11,000 ft
A. Our release was at 11,000 feet. There is no real sense of height like on
top of building. The world looks like a painted mosaic from 2 miles high.
B. It’s just like taking off in a “real” plane. However, the landscape mosaic
from a commercial plane looked serene and abstract. This scene had a
new meaning. It looked much more real, since I was to have direct
contact with a part of that mosaic in the near future. Hopefully near the
landing zone and hopefully at a low speed. - MY GRANDSON DISAPPEARS
A. My grandson Gideon was the first to jump. He dutifully followed the
instructions to dangle his legs out the door, but I could see he was
scared out of his mind.
B. Gideon is a big guy and sat in the door waiting for the instructor to join
him with a slight nudge. I was shocked at his instant disappearance into
the sky.
C. He disappeared and turned into a dot in a second. The shock deepened
when I thought about being next. - FALLING OUT OF THE SKY BY THE NUMBERS
A. Tandem jumping turns out to be a tightly choreographed sequence of
events not visible to the uninitiated: 1. Dangle feet..2. be nudged out…3.
free fall… 4. videographer catches up…5. chute is pulled …6. Newbie
temporarily steers the chute and 7. landing.
B. I didn’t know any of this at the time, so each part of the choreography
was a surprise out of the blue - SHOWTIME – “DANGLE FEET”
A. After Gideon disappeared, I was told to “dangle my feet” over the side. I
knew it would come to this.
B. After doing so, the wait was mercifully short. Some joker had even
stenciled “”No Loitering” on the ledge. So there was no time to
contemplate my demise. There was just enough time to regret not
tightening the laces on my sneakers. - NUDGED OUT
A. Then there was a gentle nudge. I had no idea what to expect, but braced
for all hell to break loose.
B. Meanwhile, the videographer/acrobat was clinging to the opening like
Spiderman. He had to time his exit precisely, since he had less than 30
seconds to get his shots of a moving object hurdling earthward at 120
mph (me!). - FREE-FALL
A. The free-fall is what it’s all about! It wasn’t at all what I expected. All
fear stayed on plane and turned into peace and exhilaration, even
though I was traveling at 120 mph. This was NOT a roller coaster ride!
B. There was sensory overload as I was transported to another space.
C. I felt safer falling from the sky than on the plane. How weird is that?
D. It was exhilarating and surreal, like drifting into another universe with no
boundaries.
E. Touch of spirituality, since in that moment, suspended between earth
and sky, I felt truly alive, connected to something greater than myself.
F. Surreal tranquility
G. Another dimension of awareness ..or unawareness?
H. Wind rushing by your face at 120 mph, but no fear
I. Liberation, freedom.
J. Pick the adjectives. I guess a “high” is the best one.
K. It was the most dangerous part of the ride, but it felt the most serene. It
didn’t compute. Hard to get your head around it!
L. This free-fall lasted about 30 seconds. Others are up to a minute.
Consider that you’re traveling at 2 miles per minute and you’re up there
2 to 2½ miles, there is not much timing flexibility.
M. A look at the videos shows that I tumbled out of the plane. It takes about
10 sec to reach 120 mph, but there is no G force, since you’re traveling
at the same speed as the plane
N. About 15 sec in, the videographer magically appears a few feet from
your face telling you to wave. Whaaat?
O. PS about the drogue chute: It’s a tiny chute which slows down the speed
of the tandem fall to about that of a solo diver: app. 120 mph. It
preserves the chute cycles and stabilizes the free fall a little.
P. I wore my Fitbit watch, which recorded the adrenaline spike. The heart
rate spiked to about 130. It felt like it jumped twice that. - TUG – CANOPY GLIDE
A. After about 30 seconds of free-fall, the instructor pulls the rip cord and the
big chute opens. You feel a tug strong enough to know the chute is
definitely deployed. You go from 120 mph to a slow glide. It’s like some
one hit the brakes on your adrenaline rush. The wind roaring around my
head turned into serenity and bliss under a giant umbrella. What next?
B. Transitioning from free-fall to a canopy glide (officially known as “canopy
flight”) brought relief! But also a disappointment that the real ride was
over. For me, the free-fall ended too soon!
C. It’s also the first time I became conscious of the fact that I probably
wasn’t going to die. - STEERING
A. The total ride under that peaceful canopy lasts about 5 minutes. After a
minute or so, the choreography calls for the newbie to steer the glide. At
this stage, you can actually talk to the instructor, so you can negotiate
the length of time and sharpness of turns as you dangle a few thousand
feet in the
air. - LANDING
A. The landing was kind of a lazy slide into home base of a slide. I just lifted
my feet to allow the instructor to brake with his feet and control the
landing, concurrent with mine. All controls are with the TI.
B. After I landed, I was charged up and felt like I owned the world. Bring it
on!
C. At that moment, I felt evangelic and wanted everyone to have that
experience. I wanted to be a skydiving missionary… spreading the
gospel of adrenaline and parachutes. Shout it from the rooftops! That
feeling has subsided somewhat, especially since few share this
enthusiasm in the real world. .
D. I felt relief and a sense of completion: mission accomplished - REFLECTIONS
A. There is nothing like it. It’s a truly unique experience. The cliché holds!
B. There is no preparation required. It’s like finishing a marathon or
climbing a mountain, except there’s no training required. It feels like
cheating. It just takes some mind games with yourself.
C. You relive that jump out of plane, free fall, and transition to glide over
and over like a loop.
D. Sometimes, the most extraordinary experiences await us on the other
side of fear.
E. I still wish for everyone to do it for themselves
F. I have respect for paratroopers & trained jumpers
G. If I were doing it over: If possible screen your instructor who becomes
your life line. Study the sequence of events in a tandem jump. It’s well
documented. Wear flight suit if possible. Maybe next time I’ll wear a
cape!
H. I’m thinking age 90 might be a good encore…
I. MOST WANT TO JUMP AGAIN AND RELIVE THE EUPHORIA
IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY LAND. I WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE.
SKYDIVING
Amazing feat Gerry! Happy belated birthday.Thank you for sharing.
Amazing feat Gerry! Happy belated birthday.Thank you for sharing.
So wonderful that you accomplished this. It ALMOST makes me want to try it. Congratulations!
AMAZING!!!! Thank you for sharing! Incredible videos!