CJ's at it again.... :sick:

[LMC]

C'mon CJ, dish the dirt...

Further to our conversation t'other week: did you jump, or were you pushed? And did you manage to get someone to take a pic of you falling out of the plane with you in extreme close up and a background of the tiny little fields and houses below? - or any pics in fact!

Well done brave man

[Miss Conduct]

Well Done to both CJ and Rebecca


WELL DONE!!

Glad you had a challenge you could enjoy this time!

K x

[ducasi]

you falling out of the plane

He prefers the word "jumping".

[Freya]

WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!

[drathzel]

Well done!

We are holding a raffle at our Party on Saturday night to help you raise more money!

I'm raffling myself off as well as dance classes!

Have a hug

[under par]

Well done!

We are holding a raffle at our Party on Saturday night to help you raise more money!

I'm raffling myself off as well as dance classes!

Have a hug

I want a ticket or ten please

[firefly]

Well done CJ!

[CJ]

Sorry this has taken so long to post, but it's been an eventful week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Firstly, thank you all so much for your support. With you guys, and a little help from Gordon Brown, we have just broken the £1100 mark. Am delighted, if somewhat embarrassed and humbled.

No pics, I'm afraid, but I hope a description will suffice...

Warm, sunny morning... lots of activity, big cheers as each plane takes off, bigger cheers when each tandem lands, the occasional showboat stuff from the Paras (who form the Red Devils)...

And a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong wait...

Just before 2 (I think, time became a total blur around lunchtime), I get the call to "meet my instructor" which is usually the pre-pre-pre jump bit. He then says, we have space, let's do it!!

So, no real prep time. Into red jump suit, trainers and off we go..

In the plane, there is a pilot (just as well really), a student, another dude about to do his first link up with the Para known as Ed, my Para (Steve, COOL dude) and myself rather, erm, well cosy..

Lots of man humour, male bonding stuff, etc... all of which helped me keep it together until the 3 minute sign from the pilot. First real twinge

1 minute sign:

Goggles go on, arse tightens up beyond all belief and lips get, suddenly, very dry.
Student lifts door, then departs...
Engine gets cut, which is my cue to drag Steve behind me to door using a bum shuffle (not the first time, eh SilverFox??!!??) to the open door... (the start of the bum shuffle was the only point at which I felt real fear...)

I then have to cross my legs, pull my straps with crossed arms and dangle out the plane, with my only contact with the plane being thru Steve who held me there for *&^^%!!@ hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, might have been a few seconds, but we both know it was way longer than strictly necessary.

Then he pushed, and we were free-falling...
Oh, COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL...

Good arch, great position... Bizarre trying to take in the views (changing very quickly), the sensation and being aware of what's going on too...

As agreed with Steve, if I got a good arch going he would play in free fall:
got a normal freefall which was cool. Then, suddenly started spinning left, slowed down, then was spinning fast to the right... VERY cool.

After the jerk, I looked up to see the 'chute.

He pulled the chute at approx 5k feet, which allowed me to play... we did some spirals, which means I got to pull hard on one side, which collapses that side of the 'chute. This leads to small-circle turns which get tighter and faster until you release the hold on the side to even out again...

Some cool sights, a gentle fall, a forward speed of approx 30 mph ( ) and then we came in to land. Steve took over, we landed and I robbed you of your hard earned pennies for a good cause!!!

Yes, I shall do it again. No, you wont have to pay for my privelage. Yes, I would recommend it. No, commando is not good.

Any ideas for 2007?!?

[Stuart M]

Any ideas for 2007?!?

Go through ONE lesson without winding up the demo.

Think my money's safe for that one...

Seriously though...

[Piglet]

Glad it was such a great experience! Well done CJ!