Lee Chandler
ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND!
This was it! The day of reckoning had arrived. June 8th 2004. I was about to fulfill an ambition of mine, I was about to do a parachute jump!
I was as nervous as I usually get on these occasions. I had everything ready, the forms, my ID and the sponsorship and parachute money. The taxi was also ready, it took me to Neverathon army camp, which was about half an hour's drive from my hotel.
We arrived at 8.00am and it was exactly how it was described in the brochure, there were two disused helicopters and a plane outside. I had to walk into the security hut. I showed them my ID and had to sign their book. A Frenchman was kind enough to give me a lift to the parachute site as it was quite a walk. A large crowd had gathered outside a hut to pay their fees. It took a while to serve me but when they did, they served me quite quickly. I was down for a Tandem Jump!
I had to wait several hours, but I was warned of this, so I socialized, drank lots of coffee and got to get a feel for the place. There were many things going on, they were testing the tannoid out several times, I saw planes land and take off. Occasionally I saw some other skydivers land, they were coming out from the clouds, they floated down like dandelion seeds. It was so beautiful and graceful to watch, some were off target, some landed perfectly.
Then there was an announcement for all Tandem jumpers. We were led away for our basic training, first we all gathered around a TV set to watch a video and then we were lead away to a lookalike gym where there was a mock wooden plane and a large looking bar stool. First we were taught how to exit a plane, hop onto your instructor's thighs, cross your hands across your chest, move out of the plane until your feet touch the bottom of the plane, then fall out of the plane. Then we were taught how to free fall, lie on your stomach with feet and arms outstretched with your back slightly curved. We all did this once on the floor, then once on the large bar stool. Once we had done that we were asked who was videoing the event, the ones who answered "yes" had a 'v' beside their name. Then we were all told to wait outside for our names to be called.
I had to wait many hours for my name to be called, when it was called I had to sign a form, then I was led away to a hanger were I met my Tandem Instructor, Arron Hearson, an ex-army officer. I refused a skydiving suit but I had to wear the harness, it felt heavy and dull like damp washing, then I was led away to a bench were we waited for our plane.
The plane was ready, we had to enter it from the rear, the blast from the propellers was like a powerful fan. We all got in, it was a bit squashed as there was six of us in there. The taxi-ing of the plane was a bit bumpy. Then I heard the engines rev right up, we were taking off, which was very bumpy as it was on grass.
We kept climbing and climbing, the plane was at a constant angle. I was holding onto the rails so as not to slide forwards, but other people were laughing at me as they thought I was scared. Then the doorway was opened. God! We were well above the clouds and I couldn't believe it when another skydiver just jumped out as if it was second nature, then the doorway was closed again.
Then the doorway was opened again. It was my turn. The instructor had to put my hands across my chest several times. Then he moved us forwards and forwards and forwards until we fell out of the plane. It took only a few seconds to get into the freefall position, but it was frightening, I was totally confused and disorientated.
Once I was in the freefall position I was ok, in fact it was pleasurable. I had a fantastic view of Salisbury, and the wind wasn't terrible it was just like a powerful fan blowing in my face. I thought this was great! Then the instructor opened the chute, I thought too soon. I heard a clunk clunk and another clunk, it was like a giant had picked me up by my trousers and shaken me a little. I wanted the descent to go on forever as it was so gentle and peaceful, all I heard was the gentle wind blowing through the parachute, this couldn't get much better. Then the instructor gave me the steering ropes, I pulled the right one down and we went in circles in a clockwise direction, then I pulled on the left one and we went anticlockwise.
Then came the landing. The instructor asked for the steering ropes back, then the ground got closer and closer and closer, I tucked my knees into my chest and then we landed with a bit of a bump. The only way I can describe it was like jumping off a moving bike. There it was, I had completed the jump! My ambition had been fulfilled and I had raised £115 into the bargain for Different Strokes. What a day! I look forward to the next one and the video of course!
Lee Chandler
Thanks to Lee for sending in his experience. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)
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